Ex-Senator Breaks Silence Over Alleged ₦25 Million Payment From Nwifuru

Former Ebonyi State Senator Emmanuel Uzor Onwe has denied allegations that he received or was offered ₦25 million by Governor Francis Nwifuru as payment for media consultancy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation was reportedly made by social critic Chika Nwoba, who claimed that Onwe and six other individuals had been appointed as media consultants by the governor and were offered ₦25 million as service fees.

Speaking during this year’s Ebonyi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week, Onwe dismissed the claim as false and urged residents to disregard it.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation stated that he had no employment relationship with the Ebonyi State Government and had neither received nor been offered ₦25 million for media consultancy.

Onwe explained that his media appearances and comments on issues concerning the state were based on his personal convictions and were not carried out at the request of Governor Nwifuru, the deputy governor or any other government official.

He said he had not received any appointment letter or been contacted for discussions concerning any official role within the state government.

Despite distancing himself from the alleged payment, Onwe said he believed some aspects of Governor Nwifuru’s administration deserved recognition, particularly in the education sector.

He praised the governor’s efforts in education but expressed disagreement with the decision to develop and operate a commercial airline at a time when, in his view, the state had other pressing priorities.

Onwe argued that resources earmarked for an airport and airline could instead be directed toward sectors such as healthcare and education. He also commended the state government’s reported initiative to sponsor about 300 students for master’s and PhD programmes abroad.

He noted that while the overseas scholarship programme had attracted criticism over concerns about the beneficiaries’ eventual return to Ebonyi and its geographical distribution, he maintained that the education initiative was worthy of attention.