The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has told his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, that defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would not stop the EFCC from probing him over the vast debt his administration plunged the state into.
Governor Otti spoke through his Special Adviser on Finance, Mike Akpara, on Thursday.
According to Akpara, the Ikpeazu administration bequeathed him a debt of ₦191.239 billion.
Akpara was flanked at the briefing by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma; the Accountant General of the State, Mrs. Njum Onyemenam; and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko.
He countered claims by the former Governor’s aides that the immediate past administration left ₦24 billion and another $250 million for the incumbent administration.
Akpara read a prepared speech entitled: “Abia Financial Status: Separating Ikpeazu’s Fictions”.
The Statement reads: ”The Alex Otti led-government woke up to the shocking news of the several billions of naira allegedly left behind for the Alex Otti led-government by the former government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
“We waited to see if Ikpeazu or his Spokespersons would refute the false and offensive claims, but to no avail.
“Rather we saw astronomical increase in the number of his allies and former aides circulating the fake news with the intention to misrepresent facts and deceive the public, especially workers and pensioners whom he treated with utter disdain and disregard.
Things To Note
“For the records, the public should note thus: The Okezie Ikpeazu-led government did not leave any ₦24 billion in the account of Abia state government as they falsely claimed.
“The $200 million and $50 million dollars they claimed they left for the new administration are loans they were pursuing which is yet to crystalise.
“Outside the humongous financial liabilities left behind by the Ikpeazu-led government, they also left physical liabilities in all our key institutions.
“For example; our University Teaching Hospital lost accreditation for the first time in history.
“Our only state Polytechnic also lost accreditation.
“The regulatory authorities predicated their action against these institutions on non-payment of salaries, lack of equipment and lack of infrastructure.
No Added Value
“Poor internal generation of revenue, with the little they generated frittered away in payment to consultants for no added value.
You May Like: How Tinubu’s Students Loan Will Send Many Out Of School
“They pay as much as 20% which is highly unethical.
“Doctors who have been on strike since February 2023 just called off their strike.
“And they emphatically stated that they based their decision on their conviction that Governor Otti would solve the problem that necessitated the strike action.
The Elementary Question
“If Ikpeazu had the billions he claimed to have left behind for the Otti led-government in April and May, why did he not pay workers and pensioners before leaving office, since Governor Otti just took over from him on May, 29, 2023?,” he questioned.
Other question put forward by the new administration is: “If Ikpeazu is trying to preempt anti-corruption agencies by making such provocative false claims, he should know that they work with facts and figures”.
Furthermore, the new Governor stated that he past Governor will surely face the music.
No Hiding Place
“Therefore, even if he runs into the APC to seek refuge as he is planning to do, these anti corruption agencies would pursue and bring him to justice from there.”
Otti further said that the Ikpeazu administration looted the state treasury and even “picked ₦2.8bn Sure-P fund that dropped into the State’s account three days before Ikpeazu left office”.
You May Like: Tribunal: Peter Obi Rolls Out More Evidence Against Tinubu
He said that but for the frantic efforts made by some of his (Otti’s) Aides, another ₦3 billion Joint Allocation revenue that accrued to the state at the eve of Ikpeazu’s exit would also have been collected by the ex-Governor and his agents.
He said that the anti-graft agencies were already on their trail.
Also, he added that some of his bankers had already given statements at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The country under the leadership of Bola Tinubu seems to be going through some sort of cleansing.
Even the EFCC chairman, Bawa is facing the wrath of the law.
The video below answers all your questions on the Bawa case.
