Nepotism, corruption devouring Eastern Equatoria – ex-miniter
By Isaac Vuni
March 28, 2007 (TORIT) — Eastern Equatoria state is getting 5.4 billion Sudanese pounds monthly from ministry of finance in the government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) for 7101 employee’s salaries and services out of which 3.2 billion kept in a block account. Additional sum of US$ 500,000 was released to cover nine months payment of executive officials as from June 2006, revealed former finance minister.
In an exclusive interview yesterday, Paul Lodiong claimed that the sum of two billion Sudanese’s pounds was released by GoSS ministry of finance for purchase of 12 vehicles for the state but the money was never used. Instead, he said, Governor Aloisio Emor Ojetuk directed him to use the unpaid salaries of employees who have not reported to EES headquarter to purchase the 12 vehicles.
He further revealed that the contract was awards to Brigadier General Martin Kenyi through Amalu Company; has no any track records yet managed to supply the 12 vehicles. In fact, our investigation revealed that the contract was an appreciation from governor Ojetuk, to Brig. General Kenyi who was then his contender and a threat to his ambition of becoming the governorship of Eastern Equatoria state.
However, former finance minister acknowledged that there was some deficit in payment derived from exclusion from budget of ministries of Agriculture, social development, information and communication, directorate of animal resource and SRRC who were left out of the budget but were later paid out of block account.
Similarly, state legislative assembly had the same problem, arrears of six months, but governor Ojetuk refused to pay them from block account, arguing that assembly has enough budgets to cater for itself.
The former finance minister also accused governor Ojetuk of not having any track records of taking money from state treasury and his allegation was confirmed by Director General for administration and finance who also revealed that financial statement in Juba coordination office are not send to Torit.
By the time he left state ministry of finance on August 4th 2006, there was in state treasury 2.2 billion Sudanese pounds and ten million US dollars cash meant for promotion of peace and reconciliation in the state including visit to IDPs camps in Khartoum and neighboring countries of Uganda and Kenya; where most state refugees are; but only two peace conferences were held, at Kimotong and Kapoeta areas in February 2006 to the present. So, the question is where has the balance of money gone?
In another development, Mila says, despite request from Voga’s daughter Mrs. Modong in London not to expose her father in the assembly, they are going to summon Angelo Voga to answer questions on how he became a state purchasing officer than being advisor to governor including biding procedure; otherwise his advisory role could have been centered on personal interest, misleading the governor, remarks Milla.
Meanwhile Patrick Bafura, chairman specialized committee of state assembly on Physical Infrastructure said the Toyota vehicles purchased by Angelo Voga has creaks, therefore they are highly suspicious that the vehicles are second hand but only painted to appear new.
Bafura further disclosed that state Lawmakers would set up investigation committee that would include senior officials from ministry of Infrastructure’s engineers to establish the status of vehicles purchased by Angelo Voga at the cost of US$ 33,500 per a car while the actual price should have been US $ 19,000.
Angelo Voga, former Sudan ambassador to Zembwebe who never passes any community nomination was appointed by his former student of St Kisubi secondary school in Uganda, Governor Ojetuk, as advisor to him on Administration affairs for supporting rejection of Madi community request for Pageri County.
It is on recalled that Angelo Voga, the son Anthony Duku and Mrs. Gladys Manany have diverted video and audio system purchased by Christian Aid organization to Equatoria Women Association as their personal properties to date.
Angelo Voga has in his 40years plus in southern Sudan politicking never passes any political nomination or representation of Madi community.
(ST)