The political atmosphere in Abia State is heating up after a former Commissioner for Information, Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, formally accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of mismanaging ₦54 billion purportedly spent on school renovation projects.
Chikamnayo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and vocal critic of the Labour Party-led government, has petitioned Nigeria’s two foremost anti-graft agencies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)—calling for a full-scale probe into what he described as “suspicious, undocumented and unverified expenditures.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Chikamnayo claimed that the Abia State Government had repeatedly announced the completion of 51 school renovation projects between the first and fourth quarters of 2024. However, he argued that critical details such as the names of the schools, specific locations, contractors engaged, contract sums, and photographic evidence of completed works were conspicuously absent from official records.
“When a government claims to have spent ₦54 billion on schools without publishing where the projects were carried out, who handled them, or evidence of completion, it is a red flag pointing to systemic corruption,” he said.
He further disclosed that he had extended his petition beyond local agencies, calling on the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Transparency International, and even the World Bank to investigate the matter.
Governor Otti, who assumed office in May 2023 on the promise of transparency and reforms, is now under pressure as critics insist that without a public audit of the projects, questions will linger about whether the government truly delivered value for money.
Civil society groups such as the Abia Transparency Movement (ATM) have already demanded an independent panel to verify the existence and completion of the 51 schools. Similarly, the APC in Abia described the allegations as “deeply troubling,” urging the Labour Party-led government to publish a project-by-project breakdown of the ₦54 billion expenditure.
An opposition lawmaker in the Abia State House of Assembly noted anonymously that if the projects exist, the government should have no problem making their details public, but if they do not, Abians deserve to know what happened to the huge funds.
Analysts say the controversy could have broader political implications ahead of the 2027 elections, as Otti’s handling of the matter may determine whether he maintains his reformist reputation or becomes enmeshed in corruption allegations that have haunted past administrations.
The petitions to EFCC and ICPC are expected to trigger preliminary investigations, which may involve reviewing contract papers, site inspections, and testimonies from contractors and officials. For now, the Abia State Government has not issued a detailed response to the allegations.
