Governor Alex Otti has vowed to publish the report of the forensic audit of the administration of his predecessor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, in which N10 billion appropriated for Abia State airport project was allegedly diverted......READ THE FULL STORY>>.....READ THE FULL STORY>>
Governor Otti explained that the purpose of the audit is in the interest of the State and assured that at the end of the day the State would either recover the money or have the airport.
Fielding questions in a media chat, the Governor said, “the immediate past Governor’s denial is not unexpected. It is a report by KPMG. They (Ikpeazu administration) did not deny but said they diverted the money.”
He said during the Covid-19 lockdown a certain debit went to Abia account, adding that from the records a letter was written requesting appropriation of N10 billion for which and FPO was written.
Otti disclosed that the company purported to be handling the airport denied involvement, saying the money was not paid to them because they do not handle such projects “but the Ikpeazu administration asked him (the contractor) to move the money elsewhere.”
“He moved the money in 32 tranches to different companies,” Otti said, adding, “the rest of the work will be done by security agents. Our concern is that the money is returned or they show us an airport.”