By Austin Ogwuda

Enugu—EMBATTLED chairperson of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB, Ms. Nneka Onuora, whose board was dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged financial impropriety by members of the State House of Assembly, has kicked against the decision, saying that it was uncalled for.

The House, which was hitherto investigating allegation of N3.6 billion contract deal, last week passed a resolution inviting the EFCC to come into the matter, following further weighty petitions sent to the House by two members of the board against the chairman.

Condemning the action of the House, the Public Relations Officer, PRO of the board, Ebere Chukwu Nnaji, said in a press statement in Enugu, yesterday: “Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board is distressed by recent false propaganda against her.

‘’The Board is surprised and alarmed that the Enugu State House of Assembly moved a Resolution based on wild and unsubstantiated allegations made by two former board members.

“One wonders why a legislative house that believes in due process would pass a resolution that portrays ENSUBEB in a poor light based on allegation from two out of its nine board members.

“ENSUBEB is not a contract agency. It is an education board established for the welfare of our children. We take our vision and mission very seriously and we will not allow dirty politics to interfere with the education of our children.

“The current leadership of ENSUBEB headed by Ms. Nneka Onuora is a strong believer in transparency and accountability and properly follows due process in all its dealings.

‘’The two former board members in question had taken active part in all Board activities, including board meetings, tender committee deliberations, bid openings, training workshops, project monitoring and other committee assignments.

‘’The other Board members are disappointed with what could have motivated the two former board members to file these false allegations.”

Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Eugene Odo, had at the plenary of the House last Thursday drew the attention of the members to petitions written by two Board members, namely Professor Udenta Chukwu and Dr. T. E. Ayogu, claiming that since the inauguration of the board in June 2013, the chairman’s leadership style had not been in line with the extant rules and regulations of the board.