The Abia State Government has described as untrue and a ploy to dodge from the imminent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the statement by former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu that his government left the sum of N24 billion in the treasury of the state, describing it as a deceitful lie.


The Special Adviser to the Governor on Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara told journalists on Wednesday in Umuahia that the  several billions of naira the past administration claimed it left behind for Governor Alex Otti were only loans Ikpeazu wanted to collect before leaving office which have not materialized up till today.


He said that the USD 200 million and USD 50 million dollars the past administration claimed it left for the new administration are loans they were pursuing which is yet to materialise.


The Special Adviser revealed that outside the humongous financial liabilities left behind by the Ikpeazu-led government, the administration also left physical liabilities in all  key institutions of Abia State government including, the University Teaching Hospital, Abia Polytechnic among others


He further disclosed that the summary of Abia State Government balances with different banks as at 28th May 2023 included:


Loan @ UBA         (8,012,830,371.44)

Loan @ Zenith    (21,557,168,761.71) 

Loans @Union Bk   (597,637,399.55)

 Loans @CBN      (47,760,302,510.12)

Total loans            (77,927,939,042.82)

  Salary arrears.     (18,162,102,692.92) pension   arrears   (21,283,876,789.80) gratuity arrears.     (27,012,996,061.64)  contractors.               (4,563,186,896.65) 

Total debts              (71,022,162,441.01)

He also made public that the external debts of the State is  42,289,206,109.84, making the grand total of debt left for the present administration N191,239,307,593.67.


According to Akpara, if Ikpeazu had the billions he claimed to have left behind for the Governor Otti led-government in April and May, why did he not pay workers and pensioners before leaving office?


The Special Adviser, who was flanked by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma , the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kazie Uko and the Accountant General of Abia State, Mrs. Njum Onyemenam re-echoed Gov Otti ‘s commitment to clear all arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities before December 31, 2023.