Bayelsa: Dickson’s ex-Chief of Staff absconds with govt property

Barely six months after his resignation as the Chief of Staff to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (Abuja office), a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, is yet to return some of the government properties in his possession in accordance with Public Service rules.
The state government has, therefore, ordered him to return all properties in his possession.
A source in Government House revealed that in defiance to the Public/Civil Service rules, the former Chief of Staff only returned some properties while others are still being kept in his custody.
The source said: “In accordance with the administration’s principle of transparency and accountability, the government reported the matter to the police because no public officer, after leaving office, has the right to withhold government properties.
“However, instead of doing the needful by returning the remaining properties in his possession, the former Chief of staff headed for court, asking for injunction to stop police from arresting him. Ikiogha, after leaving office as the Chief of Staff, Abuja office is still having some government properties in his custody.
“It is clearly stated in the Public/Civil Service rules that any official that is leaving the office should hand over properties in his/her possessions to the most senior officer in the Ministry, Department or Agencies.
“Instead of handing over all the properties, Ikiogha only returned some and kept others. The idea of asking him to return the properties should not be politicised. It is not aimed at witch hunting him but he should do the needful”.
Meanwhile, the government has concluded arrangement to sue Ikiogha if he refuses to return the properties within the stipulated period.