As the controversy over how the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, allegedly spent a whopping N10 billion for a non-existent airport project continues to rage, the incumbent Governor Alex Otti, has said that he was not interested in jailing anybody but only after the recovery of the fund.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVJ6848Dnz4

Governor Otti who spoke while responding to a question during a media parley, Thursday night, opened the can of worm on how his predecessor allegedly paid the largesse into the account of a company that never bided for the project, and later instructed the firm to wire the fund into 32 different accounts in tranches.

Otti who wondered what else the act could be called other than graft, vowed that it was either those who swallowed the fund vomited it or “they show us the airport”.

The Governor who said he was not surprised at the initial attempt by his predecessor to deny the withdrawal of the fund from the state coffers, added that all those who played any role in the movement of the fund would certainly have a date with the security agencies.

Gov. Otti promised that very soon the entire forensic audit report conducted by a reputable audit firm would be made public.

He said: “The immediate-past Governor’s denial is not unexpected. First of all, when it was announced they went to the media abusing the Government and saying the Government lied, and that there was nothing like that.

“Then when a media house that got hold of the report published it, of course, the next thing was to attempt to explain it away. But that was a report by a very reputable audit firm – KPMG. So, what they said was that they diverted the money into roads. Therefore, it’s up to them to come and show us the roads.

“But what is true is that bank statement on the 25th of September 2020 when COVID-19 was dealing with people, a debit went into the state account for N10 billion, and the description was: payment for 80% of contract of the Abia airport. That’s true and incontrovertible! The statement and report are there, and will soon be published. I can assure you that it was KPMG that did that forensic audit report.

“On the 13th of October, almost three weeks after, a letter was written by the then Governor (Ikpeazu), to the State House of Assembly requesting for approval of N10 billion for the construction of Abia airport. On the 14th of October, one day after, a letter was written to the then Governor by the House of Assembly, giving him approval for the N10 billion that he requested for the airport. So, clearly, something went wrong. An ISPO was raised in between these dates.

“So, our engagements with the contractor that received the money gave an 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; that it’s not his his area of competence, neither did he apply to them to construct an airport.

“So the people denying, the question for them is: how come money moved into an account of somebody who has said he neither sent a bid for an airport nor has he the competence to construct an airport? Of course, he will respond to security agencies.

“But according to him, the then government asked him to move the monies elsewhere. He showed us letters from the then Government to move the money in different tranches to 32 companies, and that he did that on the instruction of the former Government.

“So, like I said, the rest of the work will be done by security agencies. But what is important to our Government is: either that somebody is showing us the airport or somebody is returning our money. That’s what is important to us. We are not interested in the fireworks and all the abuse. We are not even interested in anybody going to jail except if they are telling us that somebody whose money is missing should not look for it. Where I come from, if your property is missing you have to look for it. So, we are looking for our money or in the alternative, our airport!”.

Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/gov-otti-vows-to-recover-n10bn-abia-airport-fund-prioritizes-money-over-jailing-ikpeazu-video/

Former governor Okezie Ikpeazu truly messed up things for Abia state.
He should be prosecuted and sent to jail as soon as possible.

He should provide the money. Nonsense and G_5 Governors

I wanted to write that Alex Otti should just move on and forget about the past administration, but 10 billion is a lot of money. He should use plea bargaining on Okezie Ikpeazu. Even if he can drop 5 billion, that's okay.

However, if he keeps denying, Otti should share his dossier with the EFCC after the forensic audit so they can deal with Ikpeazu their way. He doesn't need that distraction now. The EFCC was established for that purpose.

You are one of those encouraging crime and corruption with this your submission here,a thief is a thief and must be treated as a criminal,the 10 billion stolen does it belong to him or his family inheritance?the money belong to ábíá state and ábíá people.the current government must retrieve the money from him and prosecute him.no man should be bigger that his own state period

SoNature:
I wanted to write that Alex Otti should just move on and forget about the past administration, but 10 billion is a lot of money. He should use plea bargaining on Okezie Ikpeazu. Even if he can drop 5 billion, that's okay.

However, if he keeps denying, Otti should share his dossier with the EFCC after the forensic audit so they can deal with Ikpeazu their way. He doesn't need that distraction now. The EFCC was established for that purpose.

1 billion is 999 million plus 1 million extra.
To squander, steal and amass 10 Billion is insanity.

To quantify how much 1 billion is, if you spend 1m daily, it will take you a little over 3 years to finish 1b.

Now, someone like Yahoo yahoo Bello stole 80 billion. Same with Betta. And many many others.

To steal that much, in a country on its last legs, is evil.

F117nighthawk:
You are one of those encouraging crime and corruption with this your submission here,a thief is a thief and must be treated as a criminal,the 10 billion stolen does it belong to him or his family inheritance?the money belong to ábíá state and ábíá people.the current government must retrieve the money from him and prosecute him.no man should be bigger that his own state period

I am not encouraging anything. I have always been an advocate of using systems to stop fraud instead of chasing people who have stolen and squandered money. I have given an explanation of how the EFCC Act should be amended so that we can stop people in government from stealing.

If I squander state resources and you are asking me to provide the money I have already spent, that matter will be on for a long time in court and nothing will come out - the money has been spent. The Nigerian judiciary is terrible. If you take the former governor to court, Wike is connected to the judiciary, so the court cannot even send him to jail and the money won't come out.

For me, the best bet is to drop half of the money, save yourself the time, resources and efforts of taking him to court and getting nothing at the end of the day. That's because taking a former governor to court will also cost the state money, time and effort.

There is more to this than media report.The previous government said they used the fund for road construction after the contractor said he cannot handle airports projects.If actually the fund was used for road construction,then the present government should just forget about the matter and move ahead.

Building an airport in a state where 85% of the state has less than 500k naira in their acct is just an avenue to syphon public funds.

SoNature:
I wanted to write that Alex Otti should just move on and forget about the past administration, but 10 billion is a lot of money. He should use plea bargaining on Okezie Ikpeazu. Even if he can drop 5 billion, that's okay.

However, if he keeps denying, Otti should share his dossier with the EFCC after the forensic audit so they can deal with Ikpeazu their way. He doesn't need that distraction now. The EFCC was established for that purpose.

Gibberish. You know when a kid handles a phone.

That's a huge sum, ikpeazu really destroyed Abia state fr. He should pay for it.

Lol, this man fit no win second tenure election. Nigerians don't like something that is too good

Everyday different excuse just to divert the attention of abians from his dubious and poor governernce in the state. Alex is a big disgrace to good governernce

Otti is even trying to give him a soft landing.
What a nice man.

That's too much

Alex speaking to the people of Abia State.

Governors just stealing anyhow as if.
Ikpeazu never constructed any road in Abia
TA orji that one didn't even build a single structure nor road.

This are the people that need to be behind bars

fuckJones:
Building an airport in a state where 85% of the state has less more than 500k 500,000,000,000 naira in their acct is just an avenue to syphon public funds.

Fixed.
Abians are multi billionaires.

This shouldn't be about Otti. We have Legal institutions that should charge & prosecute anyone alleged to be involved in fraud.

God bless His Excellency, Alex Otti
God bless Abia State

God bless His Excellency, Peter Obi
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Why? Abeg get the fool and criminal of a former governor arrested to face prosecution? Why treating him as if he didn't embezzled?

fuckJones:
Building an airport in a state where 85% of the state has less than 500k naira in their acct is just an avenue to syphon public funds.

U no too wise. Ajeh.

RoxyBrownAutos:
There is more to this than media report.The previous government said they used the fund for road construction after the contractor said he cannot handle airports projects.If actually the fund was used for road construction,then the present government should just forget about the matter and move ahead.

But where is or are the road nah?🤷‍♂️

kaludestiny10:
Former governor Okezie Ikpeazu truly messed up things for Abia state.
He should be prosecuted and sent to jail as soon as possible.

You want to send G4 members to jail . Wike is their godfather

SoNature:
I wanted to write that Alex Otti should just move on and forget about the past administration, but 10 billion is a lot of money. He should use plea bargaining on Okezie Ikpeazu. Even if he can drop 5 billion, that's okay.

However, if he keeps denying, Otti should share his dossier with the EFCC after the forensic audit so they can deal with Ikpeazu their way. He doesn't need that distraction now. The EFCC was established for that purpose.

Well said.

K

He should have jailed the bastard

Ikpeazu I never knew you are these horrible?

You said you built road with the money ba? No wahala just show Otti the roads, simple...

More ex governors go enter jail las las it's coming gradually...

Jail the muderfuker.

Ona apudi ara?