In Abia: Audit Uncovers Alleged ₦1.86bn Diversion of Public Funds In 2023
Pecohub At least N1.86 billion was looted in Abia State by officials of the state government in 2023, an audit report by the state auditor-general has revealed.
The 88-page report was released in May 2024.
It was titled, “report of the auditor-general for the state on the financial statements and accounts of the Abia State Government of Nigeria for the year ended 31st December 2023.”
It covered the period of one year- from January to December 2023.
Okezie Ikpeazu served as the governor of Abia State from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Alex Otti of the Labour Party took over from Mr Ikpeazu on 29 May 2023 after winning the March 2023 governorship election in the state.
This means that Mr Ikpeazu served as governor in the state for five months within the period, while his successor, Mr Otti, governed for seven months within the same year.
The alleged diversion of funds and looting by some officials breached the various provisions of the state’s financial regulations and civil service rules, the report stated.
According to the report, the alleged fraud involved the award of contracts without due process, payments that circumvented due process, purchases that were not delivered, and funds that were insufficiently accounted for or unaccounted for.
Others include tax evasion, non-execution of awarded contracts, unvouched payments, unrecorded expenditures, payments made without evidence, and unremitted tax deductions.
