Residents of Anambra State are currently in uproar regarding the alleged transfer of N100 million from the state's government account to Victor Egbetokun, who is identified as the son of former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Sahara Reporters indicated that the funds were disbursed in four installments of N25 million each.
During a live television broadcast, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Public Relations Officer, suggested that there might be credibility to the allegation, mentioning that Victor Egbetokun acknowledged the incident and was instructed to have his bank account officer reverse the transaction, which he confirmed was promptly executed.
This incident has caused significant unrest among Anambra citizens who are questioning the management of state finances under Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Some members of the public theorize that the transaction could have easily been directed to any other recipient, particularly someone with ties to Anambra or a local contractor, rather than to Mr. Egbetokun, who appears to have no business interests within the state.
As the matter has become a hot topic of discussion, public affairs analyst Kingsley Ubani voiced concerns, stating: “How did the money end up in that account? Out of all the states in Nigeria, it had to be Anambra – supposedly overseen by a renown economist. How could such a significant amount just go missing, and the state was unable to rectify it quietly until it became a public issue?”
Ubani further raised the question: “Who sanctioned the transfer of N100 million to the former IGP’s son, and why? If such a large sum can be mistakenly transferred without the government being aware, how many other funds have been misallocated in the past?”
He described the N100 million transfer as a serious indictment of the governor, asserting that the citizens of Anambra deserve a thorough explanation.
In a separate statement, local insider Mr. Peter Ndukaike shared his worries about the lack of communication from the state governor regarding the incident. He suggested that the government's silence might indicate attempts to downplay the issue or hope that it would fade from public memory.
Ndukaike remarked, “If such a substantial amount can be misappropriated, how much else has been improperly handled? We expect more from a governor of such standing.”
Fisayo Soyombo, a journalist, expressed disbelief on social media that funds were mishandled in this manner, highlighting: “There are over 237 million Nigerians. Why was N100 million diverted to the son of the figure overseeing Nigeria's internal security, rather than serving those in need?”
In response to the uproar, Mr. Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary for the governor, rejected the claims surrounding the transfer, describing it as a settled matter rather than a government-led action.
He asserted, “I see no reason for people to blow this out of proportion. The transfer was corrected; Anambra state did not conduct it. This issue occurred months ago and has been resolved.”
Aburime continued, emphasizing that while it was an error, the responsibility did not lie with the Anambra State Government. He defended Governor Soludo's reputation as a careful financial steward, stating, “The governor is not one to mismanage funds.”
He concluded by reiterating that the situation was a past mistake, rectified months ago, effectively bringing the discussion to a close.
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