A social media report claiming that the Abia State government blocked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from moving 59 arrested Abia youths to Abuja has sparked online buzz. But the state says it’s all fiction.
The government, through Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, issued a statement on the 20th of May, 2025, distancing itself from the claim. He didn’t hold back in pointing fingers.
He accused political opponents of orchestrating the report, saying it was a deliberate ploy to stir controversy.
“Abia State government does not meddle in the activities of legitimate government agencies like the EFCC and other sister anti-graft agencies, let alone doing so in defence of suspected fraudsters,” Ekeoma said.
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He insisted that this wasn’t the first attempt to spread misleading stories.
“The news and similar reports in recent times, were motivated by the members of the opposition to paint the State in bad light,” he added.
Ekeoma urged residents and the public to ignore the claims.
“He appealed to the public to disregard the news and to treat it as fake.”
The government maintains it has no interest in shielding anyone from justice.