Tales Of A Money Heist: The Drowned Former Finance Commissioner And His Desperation To Stay Afloat – By Miracle Chukwunenye (Media Aide To Governor Otti)

TALES OF A MONEY HEIST: THE DROWNED FORMER FINANCE COMMISSIONER AND HIS DESPERATION TO STAY AFLOAT.

“The guilty always seek to condemn the innocent, for in doing so, they justify their own guilt” ~ Miracle Chukwunenye

Here in Abia, a former commissioner of finance under the Ikpeazu-led administration has proven the above quote to be true. In his desperation to vilify the efforts of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, he is seen daily dancing naked in the streets of shame, guilt, and public opprobrium, just to make a point and disparage the New Abia administration. But, in fact, each time he makes such a move, he ends up revealing his true colors to Ndi Abia.

Unsurprisingly, a man whose surname is synonymous with his incriminating attitude of lavishing public funds is not expected to act otherwise than in accordance with what the English translation of his name, “Mr. Chop Money,” exemplifies. This points out one of the many reasons I chose to refer to the renowned epicure as “The Money Heist.”

It’s worth noting that the man in question was the commissioner of finance when pensioners and salary earners in the state were dying of hunger. He was the chief architect of the mismanagement of the state’s funds, masterminding the diversion of all the funds that disappeared into thin air during the Ikpeazu-led administration. To date, nothing has been heard of the ₦22 billion Paris Club refund and the ₦14.150 billion bailout fund that Abia received during the “Money Heist” time as finance commissioner. What else could describe a man surrounded by numerous cases of fraud during his time in office from 2015-2019?

Now, imagine such a criminal figure in society, responsible for the current predicament Governor Otti is relieving Abians from, coming to juxtapose who is a criminal and who’s not. It’s a case of ‘Anini’ trying to be a detective. As much as Abians are fully aware that this “money heist” is struggling to regain his lost reputation after drowning himself in the murky waters of misappropriation and diversion of public funds, he aims to continue slandering a performing government. He seeks every possible means to portray the New Abia administration in bad light, solely to vindicate his evil being.

The general public should be informed that the “money heist” plans to contest for governorship in the next election, after his abysmal failure in the last election. He aims to achieve this through his already failed attempt to pitch the government against the people. Unbeknownst to him, he must have been making the wrong move. Who knows? His ambition might be met if he contests for the Governor of Fraudsters and Lootocrats Association. In this context, he might not even need an election to be sworn in as a lifetime leader, given that his craft aligns perfectly with fraud.

His recent article is one of his many attempts to discredit a performing administration. It’s not a surprise, given that Abians are well-informed of his antics. However, I remain baffled at how the “Money Heist” got the audacity to question financial management in Abia. This doesn’t mean that the New Abia administration cannot be questioned by well-meaning Abians, but it remains a taboo for people like the “Money Heist” to question financial dealings in this administration.

For the sake of public clarity, I will provide suitable responses to that article, even when I’m fully aware that Abians already know the truth.

1. The “Money Heist’s” call for investigation should be directed at him, not this administration. The Governor Otti-led administration has been very transparent in its financial dealings, with all contracts awarded having their costs and bidding process documented and available for public scrutiny.
2. In his attempt to make blatant analysis, he indirectly exposed the inept Ikpeazu-led administration he was part of, yes it’s true that the state’s FAAC and JAAC was at N4.3 billion as at 2015 to 2017, and now at N20billion during Governor Otti’s administration, but yet, even while keeping inflation aside, the hike in exchange rate alone is enough to put to analysis that N4.3 billion, using the 2015 exchange rate of approximately 197-199 naira per dollar, is approximately valued at $21.7 million USD, while N20billion as he alleged is being received presently under the Otti-led administration, using the current exchange rate of 1 USD equals 1,501.58 NGN, N20billion will be rated at approximately $13.4 million USD today, this justifies that aside the over 24.7% increase in inflation, Ikpeazu was receiving more money than Governor Alex Otti, again the ‘money heist’ claims falters.

• When did World Bank project start becoming hidden?
• Again, we have witnessed how the world bank sends representatives to speak on each project they’re funding, each time a flag off for such projects is being organised, If the Project Ekwueme was a World bank project, what stopped the Worldbank from sending their representatives to speak on the day of flag off?
• The Money heist claimed that in late 2022, Abia State won $400,000 from UNICEF for its achievements in the PHCLCF, but according to him the grant came in during the current administration, why not tell us that the gross incompetence and misuse of funds which your Ikpeazu-led administration was renowned for was the reason why UNICEF waited for a new administration before releasing the funds?
• In his articles, he has consistently accused the New Abia administration of mismanaging the UNICEF funds but today, he finally accepted that about 27 primary health centres were renovated with same funds, how do we take such an unstable character serious given his inconsistent statements?, one who singlehandedly crucifies himself at every point in time?

1. It’s worth noting that the ‘money heist’ falsely claimed that the state Government misrepresentrd the state’s participation in worldbank project as their own project, the New Abia administration ably led by Governor Alex Otti would never take credit of any project not being funded by the state, the Project Ekwueme being pioneered by the state is totally different from the Project IMPACT funded by the Worldbank, things to know about the project Ekwueme and the IMPACT project in Abia;

• The both project focuses on rehabilitation of Primary Health Centres PHCS
• Project Ekwueme is being funded by the state to reach the 943 health care Centres across the state, with a target to renovate each 200 primary healthcare centres within 100 days, until the total number is attained.
• The IMPACT project on the other hand is a Worldbank project targeting to renovate 67 primary healthcare centres in the state, note it has no business whatsoever with the project being carried out in the state.
• The Project Ekwueme is being supervised by the State’s Ministry of Health while the IMPACT project is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Health, where decisions are taken by the WORLDBANK through the ministry, the state ministry of health only acts as a co-supervisor, the state has no business with that aside the fact that the project will benefit the state’s health sector.

1. Another fallacious claim by the Money Heist that the Worldbank project targets 200 PHCs plus the 67 PHCs initially mentioned by the S.A on media making it a total of 267 was also exposed by his own post, where he showed that other states like ogun received below 100 PHCs but claimed that Abia received more.
2. In his actionable demans as he alleged, he failed to provide proof to show that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA),Abuja has certified payment vouchers to show the project is not state’s.
3. Unknown to the ‘Money heist’ unlike it used to be during their administration where projects are flagged off with elaborate ceremonies to siphon funds without being delivered, Governor Alex Otti is a time utilizer and ensures that all project in the state are delivered appropriately and timely, hence he gives stipulated time to ensure contractors brace up and finish on time, just as the case of the 100 days for 200PHCs.
4. In his alleged ‘Finance management concern’ paragraph, it’s suitable to state that the cost of any project carried out in the state since the assumption of Governor Alex Otti’s administration is documented in the ministry and available for public reading, just like i simply explained earlier, the 54 billion has been explained but for the sake of clarity, it’s suitable to touch it a little;
5. For record purposes, Governor Alex Otti met an accrued debt of over ₦17 billion in salary arrears owed by the past administration in the education sector. This debt is currently being cleared in tranches because it was not captured in the budget. As we speak, two tranches have been offset. The question to ask is, was this ₦17 billion drawn from the moon?
6. In Abia, at the moment, no single public school can be named as fit for learning. However, Governor Otti approved the rehabilitation of over 225 schools across the 184 wards in Abia. Currently, a good number of these schools are receiving attention. The New Abia administration is synonymous with outright payment for projects to prevent price hikes in the long run. Hence, most of these projects have been fully paid for while awaiting completion.
7. The rehabilitation of public schools initially mentioned spans beyond just molding blocks and roofing classrooms. Rather, it constitutes a thorough revamping of the school environment to ensure it’s fit for learning, introducing technology-driven learning, assessing teachers, pupils, and students to ascertain their level of knowledge, and making amends where necessary. Reputable organizations with high-class professionals, like ERIT, were contracted and paid hugely for these assessment activities, deemed the most important in this rehabilitation process.
8. It’s public knowledge that Governor Alex Otti has introduced discriminatory packages for teachers in rural areas and monthly running costs paid to heads of schools to halt the payment of PTA levies and other extortions usually experienced in public schools. This includes the introduction of free education from primary to basic education and a policy making it a punishable offense for a child of school age to be absent from school during school hours.
9. For compensation, it’s necessary to state that unlike the Ikpeazu-led administration where people’s properties are demolished without compensation and yet the road project abandoned after demolition, Governor Alex Otti takes is time to bring in evaluators to evaluate the cost of any property to be demolished, the case of the umuika to umene road which extends to Owerrinta is a clear example, compensation have been fully paid for these properties, as beneficiaries has since been testifying to that, the ‘money heist’ also accepted in his recent article that he received a whooping sum of N1.026 million for a little part that was scooped from his father’s house during construction, what used to be impossible in the past, just like the aforementioned, there are other numerous projects where compensation are being paid without noise, it the ‘money heist’ seeks clarification on why N15 billion was allocated for compensation, even when he has received, it’s also advisable that he returns the money he received first and then demand for clarification through the right ministry.

Finally, while the ‘money heist’ is calling for the government to be investigated, he should be aware that Abians have not forgotten the pension and salary frauds that went on under his watch as finance commissioner, including the diversion of the Paris club refund and bailout fund, no gesture of his can make Abians sweep that under the carpet, however he should be notified that a thief can never be trusted in areas of finance,hence no abian will ever believe any of his fallacious claims concerning management of funds under the New Abia administration. In a sane clime, people like the ‘money heist’and his cronies should be rotting in jail given their inhuamnity to Abians.

~ Miracle Chukwunenye
February 24, 2025.