Jonglei state governor sacks finance minister
May 26, 2015 (BOR) – The state governor of Jonglei state, John Kong Nyuon has sacked his finance minister for his alleged involvement in corruption-related matters.
A source at the finance ministry claimed Obongo allegedly diverted 300,000 South Sudanese pounds, which had been allocated for repairing state government vehicles.
“We got clear information from someone who had witnessed the minister misusing state government funds. The minister wrote on an invoice indicating that the money would be used for repairing government vehicles, but after withdrew it. Indeed no vehicle was repaired and the money was no longer there in cash”, the finance ministry official, who preferred anonymity, told Sudan Tribune.
The former finance minister had earlier been accused of allegedly utilising development funds initially allocated for the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
A committee headed by the minister of livestock and fisheries, Nyang Lul was formed and tasked to investigate Obongo’s alleged involvement in corruption-related practices.
The committee presented its report to the governor, which eventually resulted into the termination of the former finance minister, the source said.
Both Lul and Obongo hail from Akobo county in Jonglei state.
However, the state information minister claimed the committee’s findings did not in any way influence the former minister’s sacking.
Meanwhile, Sudan Tribune was unable to reach Obongo, who was appointed by the state governor to oversee the finance ministry in May last year.
(ST)