Not A Witch-Hunt!’ — Otti Clears Air After Ordering Unsealing Of Deputy Speaker’s Office

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ordered the unsealing of the Renewed Hope Partner office belonging to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The directive was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.

According to Ukoha, the office located on Ojike Street, Umuahia, was reopened immediately after Governor Otti intervened in the matter. He stressed that the initial sealing of the property had no political undertone but was part of a wider enforcement action on buildings that had defaulted on statutory requirements.

“The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, brought the issue to the Governor’s notice. The unsealing was carried out promptly, pending the regularisation of the property’s documentation,” Ukoha stated.

He further explained that the Abia State Harmonised Task Force sealed the office as part of a broad enforcement of court orders on properties that had failed to meet statutory obligations.

The state government revealed that the primary issue involved outstanding ground rent dating back to 1982, with the property’s lease set to expire on December 31, 2025. Despite multiple demand notices requesting proof of payment and compliance, the owner allegedly failed to respond, prompting the court-ordered sealing.

The statement added that other properties were also affected and later unsealed, including a building belonging to the family of the late Sam Mbakwe, a radio station, and another property used by a government agency.