Former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has categorically denied being indicted in any corruption-related matter and strongly reaffirmed his membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The denial comes as Ikpeazu awaits Senate confirmation for an ambassadorial position to which he was recently nominated by President Bola Tinubu.
The controversy stems from a report commissioned by the current Abia State administration under Governor Alex Otti. The 359-page document, titled ‘Final Report: Provision of Process Review Services to Abia State Government,’ compiled by KPMG, allegedly flagged financial irregularities during Ikpeazu’s tenure (2015-2023).
However, Ikpeazu’s media adviser, Enyinnaya Appolos, argued that the report has been grossly misrepresented, clarifying the strict scope of the consultancy
He argued that no audit of Abia State’s accounts was carried out; rather, KPMG conducted only a process review.
He said, “What the current administration commissioned was a process review — not a financial audit, not a forensic investigation, and certainly not an indictment.”
Appolos said document explicitly stated that the assignment was not conducted in the capacity of a statutory auditor, nor was KPMG required to render any opinion on the state’s financial statements.
The document quoted by Appolos was addressed to the Abia State Governor and was sighted by our correspondent on Sunday.
The document, dated March 2, 2024, read in part, “This assignment was not performed by us in the capacity of a statutory auditor. Hence, this is not any form of financial statement audit of ABSG or any entity listed in the report. We are, therefore, not required to render an opinion on the financial statements of ABSG or any entity listed in the report.
“Rather, we have performed the procedures we considered appropriate in the circumstances and in line with the relevant KPMG methodology.
“We were also not required to review the adequacy or otherwise of the output of the prior or current external auditors and/or consultants of ABSG.”
KPMG added that it “did not conduct a trial or inquiry in the course of the assignment, act as a tribunal, commission of inquiry, or in any judicial or quasi-judicial role; perform any adjudicatory function whatsoever; or conduct any exercise aimed at determining whether any person was guilty or innocent of any offence.”
Appolos stressed that “a process review cannot ‘indict’ anyone. It merely evaluates procedural compliance. It cannot make findings of guilt or wrongdoing.”
“Abia State under Ikpeazu did not generate or access up to N1tn in total revenue in eight years. How does someone divert what does not exist?” he added.
He noted that since leaving office in 2023, Ikpeazu had never been charged, prosecuted, or invited by any court over corruption allegations.
He also dismissed the notion that Ikpeazu had dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress.
Appolos said, “His Excellency Okezie Ikpeazu has never defected to the APC. He remains a card-carrying and loyal member of the PDP.
“Only three weeks ago, he attended the PDP stakeholders’ meeting held on 18 November 2025. Any suggestion that he joined the APC is not only false but easily disproved by public records and party officials.”
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