Abia Government Dismisses Claims of Governor Otti’s Clash With EFCC as False and Misleading

The Abia State Government has rejected as untrue a viral social media report alleging that Governor Alex Chioma Otti confronted officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Aba and ordered the release of several arrested youths.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the report as completely fabricated and sensational, stressing that no such incident has occurred in Aba since the current administration assumed office.

According to the government, the claim that the governor intercepted an EFCC convoy and intervened in the arrest of about 59 youths is false in its entirety. The statement noted that the narrative is recycled propaganda that was first circulated and debunked in May 2025.

The government emphasized that Governor Otti has never confronted, obstructed, or interfered with the activities of any federal law enforcement agency, adding that such actions would contradict his administration’s commitment to due process, constitutional order, and respect for institutional independence.

It further clarified that there was no mass arrest of youths in Aba by the EFCC, no plan to move detainees to Abuja, and no confrontation involving the governor or his security aides. The statement added that at the time the alleged incident was said to have taken place, Governor Otti was verifiably engaged in official duties elsewhere, as reflected in public records.

Describing the allegation as implausible, the government stated that the EFCC operates within clearly defined legal procedures, making the suggestion that a state governor would block its convoy and issue directives unrealistic and more reflective of political fiction than fact.

The statement recalled that the same allegation had circulated almost verbatim in May 2025 and was widely dismissed by the state government and civil society groups before disappearing from public discussion. Its re-emergence, the government argued, signals desperation by opposition elements rather than genuine political engagement.

Reiterating its position, the Abia State Government said the Otti administration remains committed to safeguarding lives and property, upholding the rule of law, and respecting the autonomy of lawful institutions. It added that the rights of citizens are best protected through justice and due process, not misinformation spread through viral narratives.

The government urged Abians and the general public to disregard what it described as a malicious falsehood, warning that misinformation should not be mistaken for legitimate opposition politics.

“Abia has moved on,” the statement concluded, noting that the state remains focused on rebuilding, restoring public confidence in institutions, and delivering tangible progress, insisting that recycled falsehoods will not derail that agenda.

The statement was signed by Prince Okey Kanu, Commissioner for Information, Abia State.