COVID-19 test result of Imo lawmakers reportedly released

Results of the test recently carried out on 27 members of the Imo state House of Assembly by the state COVID-19 taskforce led by Professor Maurice Iwu, have reportedly been released.

Nairafame gathered that some members on Saturday were informed individually of their status by the taskforce.

A member representing Oru-west state constituency, Dominic Ezerioha, who confirmed this in a phone chat admitted that the results have returned but explained that members were informed individually.

“I was tested alongside my colleagues and my result shows I’m negative. I can only speak for myself for now because I’m yet to have a comprehensive knowledge of others who also went for the test.

“You see, these tests were done on an individual basis and the results may equally not be for public consumption. I can assure you there is no complexity for now. Perhaps, other members have been given their results but not to my knowledge,” he added.

The lawmaker who is the House Committee Chairman on Information and Judiciary maintained that all the 27 members went for the test including some staff of the Assembly.

On the alleged shut down of the Assembly complex for two weeks, Ezerioha said it was untrue, insisting that members were only asked to go for the test and wait until the results came out.

He said members have been reporting to offices, admitting that the exercise had distorted Assembly proceedings.

It will be recalled that members of the House last Tuesday were instructed to undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test following the rumour that a member allegedly tested positive.
Several calls put across by our correspondent to some members of the Assembly were unanswered and some rejected.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty as to the status of other members who have refused to make public their results.