The Department of State Security (DSS) recently detained Pastor Christian Duru, Secretary of the Imo State Artisan Association (ISARTA), on charges of defrauding the Imo State government of N30 million in a questionable land deal.
The arrest stems from a complaint filed by Ernest Ibejiako, Imo State Commissioner for Industry, Mines, and Solid Minerals, who flagged the transaction for alleged irregularities. According to Ibejiako, the land in question—a 4.5-hectare plot reportedly intended for ISARTA’s use—was originally allocated in 2017. The association claims to have paid a total of N40 million to the ministry for this land; however, conflicting payment records and forged documents raised red flags.
The investigation uncovered a falsified receipt for N8 million as part of the payment, while N22 million of the transaction was documented only by an affidavit, bypassing an official treasury receipt and casting serious doubts on the deal’s integrity. When questioned, Pastor Duru admitted that the funds were handed over to undisclosed individuals at a local hotel—a revelation that added further suspicion to the case.
In response, Commissioner Ibejiako announced the state’s intent to reclaim the land from ISARTA, stressing the government’s dedication to recovering public assets lost to fraudulent activities. The land allocation to ISARTA has since been revoked, and Pastor Duru is expected to face legal proceedings after the DSS completes its investigation. The commissioner emphasized that ISARTA will be required to repay N30 million to the state treasury to account for the alleged fraud, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its dealings.
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