Governor Alex Otti has disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the alleged misappropriation of N10 billion said to have been spent on a non-existent Abia Airport project by the immediate past administration.

Otti made the disclosure on Friday night during his February media chat, stating that the anti-graft agency was still inviting individuals into whose accounts the funds were allegedly paid.

He explained that his administration formally petitioned the EFCC over the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the airport project, expressing confidence that the money would be recovered.

“We are still on it and I’m sure that at the appropriate time they will bring back the money,” the governor said.

According to him, a forensic audit conducted by his administration revealed that N10 billion allocated for the airport project under the government of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was misappropriated. The audit report further indicated that the funds were transferred into 32 different accounts.

Otti maintained that his administration remained committed to recovering the alleged looted funds to promote accountability, good governance and sustainable development in the state.

Meanwhile, the governor announced subsidised fares for the newly launched Electric Bus Services operating on two major routes in Abia. He said commuters would now pay N800 for trips from Umuahia to Aba, while the fare from Umuahia to Ohafia would be N1,000.

He added that the transport system would be fully cashless, with payments to be made using ATM cards.

“It is going to be cheap and organised in such a way that cash will not be accepted. You have to pay with your ATM card, because we need to move up the ladder in our digital transformation; that’s where the world is going,” Otti said.

The governor also announced that the free bus service introduced in December 2025, when the electric buses were launched, would end on February 28