Alex Otti judicial panel report is not a witch-hunt, says Abia Governor, pledging to act on findings to ensure accountability.
Alex Otti judicial panel findings will be taken seriously, the Abia State Governor said on Tuesday, insisting the report was never intended to witch-hunt anyone but to promote transparency and accountability.
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Governor Otti made the remarks at his Nvosi country home in Isialangwa South, while receiving the final report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties, funds, and related matters, chaired by retired Justice Florence Duroha-Igwe.
“Setting up the panel has nothing to do with witch-hunting or scapegoatism,” Otti said.
“We just needed to know what happened. Proper handover was not done, and we were groping. A lot of people had concerns, and those concerns needed to be investigated.”
The Alex Otti judicial panel was established shortly after his administration took office in May 2023, amid growing calls for a full audit of previous government actions.
The panel was tasked with reviewing allegations of misappropriation, improper asset handling, and lapses in due process under past administrations.
Governor Otti said his government remains committed to doing the right thing.
“We will not lose anything by insisting that the right thing is done. Our government is one that ensures the right thing is done,” he emphasised.
He added that all issues raised in the report “must be dealt with” and reaffirmed his resolve to uphold accountability in the public sector.
Earlier, in her presentation, Justice Duroha-Igwe revealed that the panel received 350 petitions and memoranda, out of which 278 were fully heard and concluded in the main report.
“Your Excellency graciously directed that we return to work on the remaining 72 petitions,” she noted, commending the governor’s insistence that no Abian should be left unheard.
She explained that the final submission consists of two volumes: an Addendum to the Main Report and an Addendum to the Proceedings, designed to provide a complete and transparent record of the panel’s work.
The Alex Otti judicial panel has been widely regarded as a test of the administration’s resolve to root out entrenched inefficiencies and misuse of state assets.
While some critics have raised concerns about possible political motives, the governor’s remarks appear aimed at reassuring the public that the process was rooted in fairness, not vendetta.
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As attention now shifts to implementation, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the government acts on the findings and whether legal or administrative actions will follow.
