Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has accused his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, of redirecting N10 billion designated for an airport project in the state into 32 different company accounts before the funds were disbursed.
Governor Otti announced that he would imminently release a forensic audit report detailing the previous administration’s misappropriation of state funds, channeling them into various private accounts instead of utilizing them for intended projects.
The governor revealed that the transfer of funds occurred before seeking approval from the Abia State House of Assembly, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the handling of public finances.
During his monthly media address, “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” held at Government House Umuahia, Governor Otti clarified that the previous governor’s denial was predictable.
He criticized the response of the former administration, which attempted to justify the diversion by claiming the funds were used for road construction, contrary to available evidence.
Governor Otti highlighted that FEROTEX Construction Company, reportedly linked to the misappropriation, admitted it never applied for or was awarded the airport project contract under the previous administration.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the findings, Otti affirmed that once the report is made public, the matter will be handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
However, he emphasized a desire for restitution over punitive measures, emphasizing the need for the misappropriated funds to be recovered rather than pursuing criminal charges.
The governor said, “The immediate past governor’s denial is not unexpected. When it was announced, they went to the media, abusing the government and saying that the government lied.
“It is a report by KPMG which says that they diverted the money into roads. In the bank statement on the 26th of September 2020 when people were dealing with COVID-19, a debit went into the state account for N10 billion and it was payment for an 80 per cent contract of the Abia airport.
“It’s true and incontrovertible. The statement is there, the report is there. By the way, the report will be published very soon.
“But I can assure you that as reported by the media, it’s KPMG that did the forensic audit.
“So, clearly something went wrong. Our engagement with the company that received the money gives the impression that the company was deceived.
“The Managing Director of the company said that he told them that he had never built an airport before and that it is not his area of competence neither did he apply to them to construct an airport.”
He emphasized that his government is unconcerned about the significant defections of PDP members to the APC in the state. Instead, he suggested that it is the remaining members of the PDP who should be feeling uneasy.
He confirmed that members from various political backgrounds, including the PDP, are aligning with him within the Labour Party.
He said, “Our government is the government of the people. What is important for us is to give good governance and that is what we are doing.”
Source: Saharareporters
