Former Imo commissioner received jail term for fraud

On Tuesday, Laz Anyanwu, a former Imo State commissioner for transportation, received a three-year jail term.

Anyanwu, who worked under former governor Rochas Okorocha, was jailed after being found guilty of the allegations the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission brought against him (EFCC).

Anyanwu’s sentence was handed down by Judge K. A. Lewanya, who stated that the jail term will be served consecutively.

According to Lewanya, the defendant was convicted of fraud, theft, and looting of public monies.

Anyanwu was found guilty of violating sections 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020 when he oversaw and doubled as the commissioner for transportation and the chairman of the interim committee of the Imo Transport Company, diverting N180 million in state funds into a private company account where he was a key shareholder and the only signatory.

He said that by doing so, the former commissioner had broken the Public Procurement Act, misused his position, and taken advantage of others while serving as the temporary chairman of the Imo Transport Company, ITC, and the commissioner for transportation.