Scandal Or Setup? Ex-Governor Ikpeazu Refutes Sh*cking Corruption Claims

Former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has firmly refuted claims that he was indicted in any corruption case and has also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

His response comes as he awaits Senate confirmation for an ambassadorial role following his recent nomination by President Bola Tinubu.

The controversy follows a report commissioned by Governor Alex Otti’s administration. The 359-page document, titled “Final Report: Provision of Process Review Services to Abia State Government” and prepared by KPMG, allegedly highlighted financial discrepancies during Ikpeazu’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.

However, Ikpeazu’s media adviser, Enyinnaya Appolos, said the report has been widely misinterpreted, stressing that KPMG’s mandate was limited.

According to him, the consultancy did not conduct a financial audit or forensic investigation; instead, it reviewed procedures and governance processes.

He stated:

“What the current administration commissioned was a process review — not a financial audit, not a forensic investigation, and certainly not an indictment.”

Appolos noted that the KPMG document clearly outlined its scope of work, stating it was not undertaken as a statutory audit and that no opinion was required regarding the state’s financial statements.

The document, addressed to the Abia State Governor and dated March 2, 2024, reads in part:

“This assignment was not performed by us in the capacity of a statutory auditor… We are therefore not required to render an opinion on the financial statements of ABSG or any entity listed in the report.
We did not conduct a trial, inquiry, or adjudicatory process, nor determine guilt or innocence of any individual.”

Appolos insisted that a process review cannot serve as grounds for indictment but only measures procedural compliance.

He further argued:

“Abia State under Ikpeazu did not generate or access up to N1 trillion in total revenue across eight years. How does one divert what does not exist?”

He emphasized that since leaving office in 2023, Ikpeazu has never been charged, invited, or prosecuted over corruption issues.

On political affiliations, Appolos dismissed claims that the former governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He clarified:

“His Excellency Okezie Ikpeazu has never joined the APC. He remains a loyal, card-carrying member of the PDP. Just three weeks ago, he was present at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting held on November 18, 2025. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false and contradicted by public records.”