The governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti, has debunked report, that his predecessor, former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu left 24 billion Naira for him.
In a statement sent to Vanguard on Saturday night, Otti described the report as false, noting that Ikpeazu did not leave any money for him.
His words: “I know you must have seen some falsehood flying around that the immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, left 24 billion Naira for his successor.
“For want of better expression, there’s no truth in that claim if it was actually made by the former governor.
“The truth is that the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, even before he was inaugurated, got wind of the money, proceed of Stamp Duties refund, and stopped the payment to Abia so that it would not be looted by those who were running the state then.
“The money is actually 48 billion Naira, but we’re expecting the sum of 24 billion Naira, which is yet to be paid.
“So, Ikpeazu didn’t leave any money for his successor. It’s all a lie. Governor Otti stopped the payment of the money to the then outgoing Ikpeazu’s government just the same way he stopped the granting of a 200 million dollar African Development Bank loan to Ikpeazu in 2017.
“Abia people will indeed be grateful to Governor Otti for his proactiveness in stopping the payment of the 24 billion Naira to Ikpeazu.”