Press Statement
2 September 2026
CEHRAWS: RECURRING “ERRORS” IN ABIA’S FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRE ANSWERS
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society, (CEHRAWS), has taken note of the Abia State Government’s clarification that the ₦1,003,091,350.00 reported in the 2025 Accountant-General’s Report was spent on 12 Toyota Hilux vehicles, rather than two, attributing the discrepancy to the omission of the digit “1”.
While we acknowledge the Government’s willingness to correct the record, we are concerned that this explanation comes against the background of a similar controversy involving the 2026 Appropriation Document, where a purported ₦250 million allocation for a photocopier was later explained by Government as a formatting error, with the actual provision said to be ₦12 million.
This raises a legitimate question: How do such significant discrepancies, both in words and figures, pass through the various stages of preparation, review, legislative scrutiny and approval of critical public financial documents?
A budget and an Accountant-General’s Report are not ordinary publications. They are fundamental instruments of public accountability upon which citizens, legislators, auditors and other stakeholders rely. Under Sections 125, 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, public accounts are subject to audit, while the State House of Assembly has powers to scrutinise public expenditure and investigate inefficiency, waste and other irregularities.
CEHRAWS is particularly concerned because Mr. Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti has consistently presented his administration as one driven by financial discipline, professional competence and transparency. It is therefore increasingly difficult to understand how such errors could repeatedly occur under an administration headed by a renowned financial and economic expert without stronger internal controls or professional oversight.
We are not accusing the Governor or any official of fraud. However, repeated unexplained errors involving public finances are becoming difficult to dismiss as mere typographical or formatting mistakes. They naturally generate suspicion and undermine public confidence in official financial records.
We therefore urge the Government to publish the relevant procurement and payment documents for the 12 Hilux vehicles, including approvals, procurement records, contracts, invoices, unit prices, delivery and inspection documents, and evidence of registration.
We also urge the Abia State House of Assembly, the State Auditor-General and other relevant oversight institutions to independently reconcile the transaction and examine how the discrepancy occurred.
Interestingly, the figures contained in Government’s own clarification (₦177,750,000 + ₦412,670,000 + ₦412,670,000) add up to ₦1,003,090,000, leaving a ₦1,350 difference from the stated total of ₦1,003,091,350. Even if this is another minor accounting error, it should be promptly explained and corrected.
CEHRAWS also cautions against portraying civil society organisations and other stakeholders who raise legitimate questions about public expenditure as “the opposition”. Public scrutiny is not opposition; it is a fundamental component of democracy.
Government is not expected to be infallible. It is, however, expected to be accountable, transparent and verifiable.
Public money belongs to the people of Abia. They have not only the right but the democratic responsibility to ask questions about how it is appropriated and spent.
One error may be a mistake. Repeated errors in critical financial documents demand a system review, stronger oversight and credible answers.
Signed:
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
cehraws@gmail.com | +234(0)808-035-1242(WhatsApp only)
Facebook: @cehraws
