Former Abia State Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Obinna Oriaku, has issued a strong call for financial transparency from Governor Alex Otti, demanding clear explanations about the state's monthly allocations and internally generated revenues.
Financial Figures Under Scrutiny
In a statement released on Monday, November 17, 2025, Oriaku directly challenged Governor Otti's claim that the state receives only N15 billion monthly in revenue. The former commissioner, who served under previous Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, presented contrasting figures that suggest much higher monthly inflows.
According to Oriaku's analysis of the Abia Q3 2025 Financial Report, the state actually received approximately N30.3 billion monthly during the third quarter of 2025. This follows even higher figures from previous quarters, with N28 billion monthly in Q1 and N38 billion monthly in Q2.
Contradictions in Revenue Reporting
The financial controversy deepened when House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu previously revealed that Abia State received N38 billion monthly in excess federal allocations and other accruals during the second quarter of 2025. Governor Otti had promptly dismissed this claim, maintaining his position of N15 billion monthly revenue.
Oriaku expressed serious concerns about these discrepancies in his article titled "Abia's Q3 2025 Financial Report: Unanswered Questions, Conflicting Figures and Rising Transparency Concerns." He noted that while the sectoral breakdown in the report appears detailed, closer examination reveals figures that contradict both ground realities and previous government claims.
Questionable Expenditure Patterns
The former commissioner highlighted several concerning patterns in the state's expenditure reports. He pointed out that controversial items like the N1 billion Security Vote and the N300 million Government House feeding bill have disappeared from recent reports, only to reappear under the vague classification of "Research and Development" - an expenditure line that has consumed over N34 billion since 2023 without clear outputs.
Oriaku also scrutinized specific allocations, including N14.4 billion for Land and Housing without visible housing projects, N6.7 billion for recreational facilities that remain unidentified, and N9.1 billion for Transport amid questions about the electric bus project that mysteriously increased from 20 to 100 buses.
Calls for Accountability
The former finance commissioner emphasized that Abia residents deserve transparent and verifiable financial disclosures. "Until the government provides clear explanations and reconciles these contradictions, the credibility of its financial reporting will remain under serious doubt," Oriaku stated.
He questioned why neighboring states like Enugu and Imo have visible landmark projects funded from similar revenues, while Abia citizens are expected to celebrate minor road repairs. With combined monthly inflows reaching over N40 billion when local government allocations are included, the lack of transparency becomes even more troubling for concerned citizens and stakeholders.
