A former Commissioner for Finance in Abia State, Obinna Oriaku, has contradicted Governor Alex Otti's claim regarding payments made for the Port Harcourt road project in Aba during the previous administration.

Oriaku, who served under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, insisted that only N3.2 billion was paid to the contractor handling the project, not the N9.8 billion (equivalent to $29 million) as alleged by Governor Otti during a recent event in Aba.

The controversy erupted after Governor Otti, speaking at a thanksgiving and two-year anniversary carnival organized by the Abia business community on Wednesday, claimed that the Ikpeazu administration had paid out the entire contract sum of N9.8 billion for the Port Harcourt Road project in 2017, yet the road remained uncompleted.

"In 2017, they awarded this Port Harcourt Road. The amount at that time was N9.8 billion. And they paid out the entire money. But the road was not done," Otti stated during the event.

The Governor further explained that when his administration awarded the same road project in 2025 at N36.5 billion, critics failed to consider the significant devaluation of the naira. "The average exchange rate in 2017 was N333 to a dollar. Now, if you apply that, the N9.8 billion was actually USD 29 million equivalent," he added.

However, Oriaku has challenged the Governor to provide evidence supporting his claims. According to the former Finance Commissioner, the Ikpeazu administration paid only N3.2 billion to Heartland Construction, the company handling the project, between 2017 and 2023.

"We challenge Governor Otti to publicly present any evidence that Heartland Construction received more than N3.2 billion for the Port Harcourt road project, which represents 32.6% of the total contract sum," Oriaku stated.

The former commissioner, who has been a vocal critic of the Otti administration, also disputed the Governor's assertion that no work was done on the road. He maintained that the construction company did carry out some work with the funds received.

Oriaku has called on Governor Otti to establish an independent panel to investigate the actual amount paid to Heartland Construction for the Port Harcourt road project. He also promised to tender a public apology if evidence emerges proving that the Ikpeazu administration indeed spent N9.8 billion on the road as claimed.

The Port Harcourt Road in Aba has been a significant infrastructure project in Abia State, with its completion considered crucial for economic activities in the commercial hub of the state.