NEWS
Abia State Govt Debunks Alleged EFCC Confrontation in Aba, Describes Report as Recycled Propaganda
The Abia State Government has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media report alleging that Governor Alex Chioma Otti confronted operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Aba and ordered the release of dozens of arrested youths.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the claim as a “sensational and entirely fabricated story,” insisting that no such incident has ever occurred in Aba under the present administration.
According to the government, the report which alleged that the governor blocked an EFCC convoy and intervened in the arrest of about 59 youths did not happen at any time, either recently or in the past. The statement said the narrative was false “from beginning to end” and amounted to recycled propaganda previously circulated and debunked in May 2025.
The government stressed that Governor Otti has never interfered with, obstructed, or confronted any federal law enforcement agency in the course of its lawful duties, noting that such conduct would contradict his commitment to due process, constitutional order, and respect for institutions.
It further clarified that there was no mass arrest of Aba youths by the EFCC, no attempted transfer of detainees to Abuja, and no confrontation involving the governor or his security details. At the time the alleged incident was said to have occurred, the statement noted, Governor Otti was verifiably engaged in official state duties elsewhere, as shown by public records.
Describing the claim as implausible, the government said the EFCC operates within established legal frameworks, making the suggestion that a state governor would theatrically block an agency convoy and issue directives “more akin to political fiction than reality.”
The statement also recalled that the same allegation had circulated almost word for word in May 2025 and was subsequently debunked by the state government and civil society actors before fading from public discourse. Its reappearance, the government argued, reflects desperation by opposition elements and a lack of constructive political engagement.
Reaffirming its stance, the Abia State Government said the Otti administration remains committed to protecting lives and property while upholding the rule of law and respecting the independence of lawful institutions. It emphasized that citizens’ rights are best protected through justice and due process, not misinformation or viral narratives.
The government urged Abians and the general public to disregard what it termed a malicious fabrication and warned that misinformation should not be mistaken for opposition politics.
“Abia has moved on,” the statement concluded, adding that the state remains focused on rebuilding, restoring confidence in public institutions, and delivering measurable progress, insisting that recycled falsehoods would not derail that trajectory.
The statement was signed by Prince Okey Kanu, Commissioner for Information, Abia State.