There is growing outrage among residents of Anambra State following allegations that N100 million was transferred from the Anambra State Government account into the bank account of Victor Egbetokun, reportedly the son of former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to reports by Sahara Reporters, the funds were transferred in four tranches of N25 million each.
During a live television interview, Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, acknowledged the development, indicating that the allegation was true. He explained that the former IGP’s son confirmed receipt of the funds and was advised to instruct his account officer to reverse the transfer, which was done immediately.
Despite the reported reversal, the disclosure has unsettled many residents, raising concerns about the management of Anambra State’s finances under Governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
Some citizens have questioned the circumstances surrounding the transaction, arguing that the funds could have been mistakenly transferred to any other account, particularly that of an Anambra indigene or contractor, rather than to Egbetokun, who is not known to have business dealings with the state government.
As public debate intensifies, a public affairs analyst and critic of the state government, Kingsley Ubani, said: “The question is how did the money get there? Out of the 36 states of the federation, it had to be Anambra State – a state managed by an acclaimed Professor of Economics that N100 million will “miss road” and the state government failed to quietly retrieve it, until it became a matter for public discourse?
“The question now on the lips of Ndi Anambra is, who approved the transfer of the sum of N100 million to the IGP son’s account and why? If the sum of N100 million can be transferred in error without the sender knowing that he has made such an erroneous transfer, how much money has been transferred in error in the past?
“The N100 million transfer is an indictment on Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and Ndi Anambra deserve some explanation.”
Another indigene, Mr Peter Ndukaike, expressed concern over the government’s silence on the matter. He said: “To me, what is worrisome is that the Anambra State Governor and his government have refused to comment on the matter since it broke. I think they are looking for a way to suppress it, or simply wish that their silence will make it die a natural death.
“If such an amount can be transferred out in ‘error’, who knows how much of Anambra funds have been so moved without any trace. It is worrisome because our governor is a man of immense integrity and this should not be expected.”
Journalist Fisayo Soyombo also weighed in on the controversy in a Facebook post, stating: “There are 237.5 million Nigerians. The Anambra State Government was going to make an erroneous N100 million transfer but it did not land in the account of you reading this or me or the possible 237.5 million others.
“Instead, the Anambra State Government transferred funds from the security vote to the son of Nigeria’s number one internal security official. I like that you people think Nigerians are fools and I hope you know Nigerians consider you fools too.The feeling is mutual!”
In response, the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Aburime, denied any involvement by the Anambra State Government, maintaining that the transfer was neither initiated nor authorized by the state.
“I don’t know why people are making a big matter out of something that had long been settled. Anambra State Government has no hand in the transfer. It was an honest error and has already been reversed. This thing happened months back, and has been settled.
“Even though it was an error, it was not by Anambra State Government. I don’t want to talk about this, but you know that the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo is a renowned finance manager and you can attest to his prudence. He is not one to throw away money.
“Like I said, the matter has nothing to do with Anambra State Government. It was an error, but not by Anambra State Government. You and I have gotten money erroneously like that, and this one happened months back and had been reversed, and that ends it,” he stated.
