A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Eze Chikamnayo, has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over what he described as a suspicious handling of ₦54 billion meant for school renovation in the state.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, Chikamnayo raised alarm over what he called a “lack of transparency and accountability” in the handling of funds budgeted by the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
According to Chikamnayo, despite the allocation and reported disbursement of ₦54 billion between the first and fourth quarters of 2024, there is no visible evidence of the projects said to have been executed under the scheme.
He claimed that the funds were allegedly spent on 51 public school renovation projects, yet “not a single new smart school” has been completed or is visibly under construction anywhere in the state.
“Our investigations revealed that more than 95% of public schools in Abia State remain in a state of severe neglect. Many of them have dilapidated structures, no fences, and lack essential learning materials,” he said.
He added that the state of the schools contradicts the government’s claims and what is recorded in the State Government’s Budget Performance Report.
“These troubling realities stand in stark contrast to the said expenditure reported by the state. Worse still, these figures are separate from other financial inflows received under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other Federal Government intervention programmes,” Chikamnayo noted.
Chikamnayo said he has officially submitted petitions to the EFCC, ICPC, and also reached out to several national and international bodies including the:
National Assembly
Federal Ministry of Finance
Federal Ministry of Education
UNESCO
World Bank
Transparency International
Amnesty International
“We are not just calling for transparency. We are demanding a full investigation and sanctions if necessary,” he said. “We believe these funds, meant for basic education, must be accounted for—especially when children across Abia are still learning in poor and unsafe conditions.”
Chikamnayo urged civil society organisations, education rights advocates, and concerned citizens to support the call for accountability in the state.
He stressed that the case goes beyond politics and should be seen as a matter of public interest and the future of education in Abia.
“In the interest of Abia children and future generations, we have dragged the government under Governor Alex Otti to all relevant anti-corruption agencies—locally and internationally,” he said.
“We urge the public, civil society, and media organisations to join this effort by lending their voices and platforms to promote transparency in the use of public funds.”
Governor Alex Otti, who assumed office in May 2023, has consistently stated that education is a top priority for his administration. He had announced plans to build “smart schools” across the state, promising modern infrastructure, digital learning tools, and improved teacher welfare.
The state government’s budget reports from 2024 reportedly show that ₦54 billion was allocated and spent on renovating or constructing 51 public schools. However, critics have raised concerns over the lack of visible progress or publicly available records of the projects.
As of the time of this report, the Abia State Government has not officially responded to the allegations made by Chikamnayo or the petitions filed.
The ball is now in the court of anti-corruption agencies and oversight bodies to determine whether the allegations have merit and whether the state government can provide proof of value for the funds disbursed.
