Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the alleged misappropriation of N10 billion reportedly earmarked for the construction of an airport during the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Speaking during his February media chat, Otti said the anti-graft agency is actively probing the financial trail of the funds, including summoning individuals and entities into whose accounts the money was allegedly paid. He emphasized that his administration formally petitioned the EFCC after a forensic audit uncovered irregularities surrounding the controversial airport project.
According to the governor, the audit report revealed that the N10 billion allocated for the proposed Abia airport was diverted and transferred into 32 different accounts, raising serious concerns about financial governance under the previous administration. He maintained that the airport project, for which the substantial sum was reportedly expended, does not exist in practical terms.
“We are still on it,” Otti said, underscoring his administration’s determination to pursue accountability. “And I’m sure that at the appropriate time they will bring back the money.”
The governor’s remarks signal a continuation of his government’s broader anti-corruption and fiscal recovery drive, which he has repeatedly framed as essential to repositioning Abia State’s public finance architecture. Since assuming office, Otti has consistently argued that fiscal discipline, transparency, and recovery of misappropriated funds are foundational to delivering sustainable development.
The alleged N10 billion airport expenditure has remained one of the most contentious issues inherited by the current administration. Critics have questioned how such a substantial allocation could have been disbursed without visible infrastructure to justify the spending. The forensic audit commissioned by the Otti administration reportedly tracked the movement of funds and identified multiple beneficiary accounts, prompting the formal petition to the EFCC.
While declining to provide operational details of the ongoing investigation, Otti indicated that the commission is methodically inviting recipients of the funds for questioning. He expressed confidence in the EFCC’s capacity to unravel the transaction chain and ensure restitution where wrongdoing is established.
The governor reiterated that the recovery effort is not driven by vendetta but by a responsibility to the people of Abia State. According to him, reclaiming misappropriated public funds will enhance the state’s fiscal space and accelerate developmental initiatives across critical sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, and transportation.
Beyond the corruption probe, Otti used the media chat to outline reforms in the state’s transport sector, particularly the newly introduced Electric Bus Services. The initiative, launched in December 2025, had initially operated as a free service to ease transportation burdens during the festive season and early months of the year.
The governor announced that beginning March 1, commuters will now pay subsidised fares on two major intercity routes. The fare from Umuahia to Aba has been fixed at N800, while passengers traveling from Umuahia to Ohafia will pay N1,000.
Otti explained that although the free service period would officially end on February 28, the fares remain heavily subsidised to ensure affordability while maintaining operational sustainability. He stressed that the objective is to provide an efficient, organised, and technologically integrated transport system aligned with global best practices.
“It is going to be cheap and organised in such a way that cash will not be accepted,” the governor said. “You have to pay with your ATM card, because we need to move up the ladder in our digital transformation — that’s where the world is going.”
The insistence on cashless transactions, he noted, is part of a deliberate digital transformation strategy aimed at improving transparency, revenue tracking, and service efficiency. By eliminating cash handling, the government seeks to reduce leakages, enhance accountability, and generate reliable transportation data for policy planning.
Industry observers interpret the electric bus scheme as both an environmental and economic reform measure. The adoption of electric vehicles reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers carbon emissions, while the structured fare system is expected to introduce predictability into urban mobility across Abia’s major corridors.
The transport reform also complements the administration’s broader fiscal philosophy. By formalising revenue channels and embedding digital payment systems, the government aims to build a culture of compliance and accountability across public services.
Otti’s dual focus on anti-corruption enforcement and structural reform underscores what his administration describes as a governance reset. On one hand, it is pursuing retrospective accountability over past financial decisions, including the controversial airport project. On the other, it is implementing forward-looking reforms designed to modernise public service delivery.
Political analysts suggest that the EFCC investigation into the alleged N10 billion airport expenditure could have significant legal and political implications, depending on the outcome of the probe. If the commission substantiates the findings of the forensic audit, it may lead to prosecutions and recovery proceedings.
For now, the governor remains publicly confident that the funds will be recovered. His assurance reflects a broader narrative of institutional correction — one in which investigative agencies, forensic audits, and digital governance reforms intersect to redefine public accountability in Abia State.
As the EFCC continues its investigation and the state transitions from free to subsidised electric bus services, the coming months are likely to test both the robustness of anti-corruption mechanisms and the sustainability of the state’s evolving reform agenda.
