The Special Adviser to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, has dismissed the allegation that his principal sponsored fake news against his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

Naijaonpoint learnt that reports online had claimed that Ikpeazu was sentenced to death by hanging by an Abia State High Court, for allegedly stealing ₦1 trillion during his tenure.

The reports also claimed that the money was found in Ikpeazu’s secret foreign account.

But speaking in an interview with ABN TV, Ikpeazu dismissed the claims as laughable and mischievous, insisting that the entire story was fabricated to mislead the public.

He said, “This is not news, it is laughable.”

Also reacting to the report, former Commissioner for Information in Abia State, John Okiyi Kalu, described it as hate speech and urged the DSS to fish out those behind it.

Kalu also claimed that the fake news was a cybercrime committed by people working for Otti, adding that similar fake news was recently published against Ikpeazu and credited to a popular Nigerian music star.

But responding to Kalu’s claims, Ekeoma distanced Otti from the fake news, cautioning the former Commissioner against using the governor’s name to gain financial favour from the ex-Governor, Ikpeazu.

Ekeoma, who reacted through his official Facebook page, said that his principal could not have sponsored anyone to publish such a fake report.

He said, “It is laughable to imagine that Governor Otti, who played the most responsible and decent opposition politics in the history of Abia State, would sponsor anyone to allege that the former Governor was sentenced to death for alleged corruption.

“What would Governor Otti stand to gain from such a rubbish report?”