Okezie Ikpeazu Rejects Corruption Allegations, Reaffirms PDP Membership

Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia State, has rejected claims linking him to any corruption cases and reaffirmed his commitment to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-governor, recently nominated by President Bola Tinubu for an ambassadorial role pending Senate approval, addressed reports that cited a 2024 KPMG document alleging financial irregularities during his tenure.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Enyinnaya Appolos, Ikpeazu clarified that the KPMG document, titled “Final Report: Provision of Process Review Services to Abia State Government”, was a process review and not a financial audit. Appolos emphasized that the report did not constitute any indictment, nor did it assign culpability for any alleged mismanagement of funds.

“Process reviews evaluate procedural compliance they do not establish wrongdoing,” Appolos said, noting that KPMG explicitly stated it did not act as a statutory auditor or perform any judicial or adjudicatory function.

He further dismissed allegations that Ikpeazu diverted N1.9 trillion, pointing out that the state did not generate such revenue during his eight-year administration.

Appolos also referenced prior investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had reviewed claims concerning N10 billion intended for the Abia Airport project and found them politically motivated and unsubstantiated. Since leaving office in 2023, Ikpeazu has neither faced prosecution nor been charged with corruption-related offenses.