By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, has vehemently rejected claims suggesting that he was indicted for corruption in an audit report commissioned by the Abia State Government.
This is as he described as false and misleading claims linking him to any financial wrongdoing in the KPGM reports in the process review commissioned by the current Abia state Government.
The former Governor’s rebuttal is coming against the backdrop of growing controversies surrounding his Ambassadorial nomination and those of a few others ahead of their screening by the Senate.
There are widespread speculations that his nomination may have been flagged owing to the KPGM report which critics insist indicted the former Abia state Governor.
Dr Ikpeazu, along with about 67 others, was last week nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Ambassadorial positions in an exercise that has since provoked widespread concern and agitations.
However, since his nomination, not a few people have raised questions and objections over his qualifications owing to the KPGM forensic audit report commissioned by the Dr Alex Otti-led administration in Abia State which critics claim strongly indicted the former Governor.
The Source reports that the KPGM report which was made public on May 2, 2024, had, among other things, raised questions about a N10 billion airport project fund allegedly diverted by the immediate past Governor.
The about 360-page Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler audit KPGM report which was released by the State Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu, similarly detailed other cases of alleged shaddy transactions and infractions committed by the Dr Ikpeazu-led administration between 2015 and 2023.
Although the former Governor had, at the time of the release of the report, denied diverting or misappropriating any funds, particularly the N10 billion airport funds, the allegations have in the last few days continued to gain traction.
But a statement from Enyinnaya Appolos, his media aide late on Sunday December 7, 2025, insisted that the KPGM report was never a financial audit and was not derived from a forensic investigation capable of indicting anyone.
“What the current administration commissioned was a process review, not a financial audit not a forensic investigation, and certainly not an indictment”, Appolos noted.
According to him, the KPGM in its report acknowledged that its efforts were far from being a financial audit and a forensic investigation. “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”, the KPGM was quoted as stating.
In the same vein, the audit firm was quoted by the Ikpeazu media aide as noting that “it did not conduct a trial or inquiry 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 of innocent of any offence.”
This is as Appolos emphasized that a process review cannot indict anyone as it merely evaluates procedural compliance.
“It cannot make findings of guilt or wrongdoing”, he added.
According to the former Governor’s media aide, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFFC, as well as other relevant authorities have all investigated and dismissed as politically motivated allegation of diversion and misappropriation of N10 billion airport funds.
“Since leaving office in May 2023, Dr Ikpeazu has never been invited, charged or prosecuted by any court ,or agency over corruption allegations”, Appolos stated.
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