Abia State: Gov Otti dismisses claims of missing N54bn, calls allegations baseless

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has denied allegations that N54 billion is missing from the state treasury, describing the claims as unfounded and rooted in a misunderstanding of government budgeting processes.

The accusations were made by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Abia’s Best Interest Association, who accused the governor of financial opacity and labelled him a “political liability.”

The group’s convener, Eze Chikamnayo, had demanded accountability for the N54 billion allocated for public school renovations in the 2024 budget, citing poor infrastructure in schools across the state.

However, Governor Otti clarified in a Friday media chat that the figure represented a budget estimate, not actual expenditure. He disclosed that only N2.1 billion had been spent so far, with the remaining funds still under controlled disbursement.

Otti emphasised his administration’s commitment to transparency, pointing to the state’s participation in the World Bank’s State Transparency and Accountability Program, which mandates public disclosure of budget performance. He also explained that contractors handling state projects are required to provide advance payment guarantees to prevent fund diversion.

The governor dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, attributing them to “mischief makers with no credibility.” He urged critics to verify facts before making claims, noting that the state’s audited financial reports are publicly available.

Otti further defended his administration’s performance, highlighting ongoing infrastructure projects in Umunneochi Local Government Area as evidence of prudent financial management.

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cc:  Punch Nigeria