The Ebonyi State Government has strongly denied allegations that it allocated ₦16 billion for the operations of its Abuja Liaison Office in the 2026 budget, describing the reports as baseless and intentionally misleading.
In a statement issued by Leo Ekene-Oketa, Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, the government clarified that the claim made by Chika Nwoba is a malicious fabrication designed to deceive the public.
The official explained that the state owns a property in Abuja’s Central Business District, where a 12-storey building originally stood before it was demolished by the government in 2016. The ₦16 billion provision in the budget is intended solely for the development and redevelopment of this state-owned asset to benefit the people of Ebonyi, not for the day-to-day running of the liaison office.
Ekene-Oketa further noted that the actual recurrent expenditure for the Abuja Liaison Office remains consistent with previous years, with personnel and operational costs estimated at around ₦77 million. He reaffirmed Governor Nwifuru’s dedication to transparency, prudent financial management, and continued infrastructure development across the state.
The government urged the public to ignore what it termed as concocted narratives and to depend only on verified official communications regarding state finances and projects.