Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has been accused of wiring billions in suspicious transactions from the state government’s accounts to his political associates.
Peoples Gazette reported, quoting bank documents, that the transactions occurred between 2016 and 2017.
According to the report, at least N3.8 billion from three of the state’s bank accounts went to Tunnel End Investment Co. Ltd, Rock-Waters Integrated Services Ltd, Tetra-Lock Business Solutions Ltd, and Delhope Resources Ltd. It said other companies linked to Ikpeazu’s associates which received state government funds were being traced.
The first three companies are owned by Enyinnaya Nwafor, an elder brother of Chimaeze Nwafor, a personal assistant to Ikpeazu. He is also the son of a late former Deputy Governor of the state, Chima Nwafor. The companies were said to have received N3.4 billion transactions from the state government in the time under review without clear-cut justification.
In one instance, the report stated, one of the three state government’s accounts – Excess Crude Oil Account domiciled with Zenith Bank with account number 1014381352 – paid N176 million to Tunnel End Investment on January 13, 2016.
The last company, Delhope, was said to be a registered cybercafe operated by one Innocent Adiele, another associate of the governor.
The company reportedly received N412 million for contracts that allegedly did not meet public procurement rules.
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Nwafor, Adiele, and the Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi were said to have declined to comment on the transactions, although Nwafor previously denied being involved in corrupt practices.
Ikpeazu was first elected as governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and won re-election in 2019.