The Abia State Panel on Recovery of Government Property received accolades during the week for its resolute, impartial, and equitable approach in addressing the petitions brought before it. Dr. Philips Nto, the former Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA), expressed his commendation, highlighting his earlier concerns regarding potential ulterior motives surrounding the panel’s proceedings. He specifically praised the Chairman, Justice Florence Duruoha Igwe, and the panel members for their steadfastness in resisting any such influences.
Nto’s commendation followed the panel’s rebuke of ASCETA’s management for obstructing his access to crucial documents necessary for his defense against the petitions lodged against him. The panel emphasized that given the refusal of Prof. Vincent Onwe, the current Provost, to grant Dr. Nto access to the required documents, his further appearance before the panel was unnecessary.
During his interaction with the panel, Dr. Nto revealed the systematic hindrances placed by ASCETA’s management, preventing him from obtaining the essential documents vital for addressing the accusations leveled against him. Despite his attempts, including correspondence through both the panel and his legal representative, he encountered persistent refusal.
Dr. Nto elucidated that his abrupt removal from office before the completion of his second tenure as Provost rendered him incapable of accessing not only the pertinent documents but also his personal belongings. He reiterated his commitment to upholding the principles of lawfulness, having served the state diligently and honestly, first as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, and subsequently as Provost of ASCETA. He underscored his unwavering cooperation with the panel to clear his name of any allegations.
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| Dr. Philip Nto |
Currently serving as the Director of the Agricbusiness Incubation Centre at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Dr. Nto asserted that certain individuals, in collusion with ASCETA Union members, orchestrated a campaign to tarnish his reputation. He lamented the irony that despite his efforts in elevating the college from obscurity to a rapidly advancing institution with state-of-the-art infrastructure and digital educational resources, some individuals sought to undermine his achievements out of envy.
Expressing gratitude to the panel for its impartial stance and commitment to truth and justice, Dr. Nto acknowledged the forgiveness he extended to his detractors. However, he vowed to employ all lawful means to safeguard the reputation and integrity painstakingly cultivated over the years.
In earlier reports, Aro Okeigbo Blog, a prominent online platform in Arochukwu, had highlighted the concerns raised by Dr. Nto regarding potential malfeasance surrounding the proceedings of the Abia State Panel on Recovery of Government Property. These reports underscored Dr. Nto’s vigilance in safeguarding the integrity of the panel’s operations and his proactive stance in addressing any perceived threats to its impartiality.
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