Explosive allegations of widespread fraud and systematic theft of public funds have emerged surrounding the compensation process for land acquired for the proposed Abia State International Airport in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North.
Solicitors representing affected landowners have lodged damning petitions with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing officials within the Ministry of Lands and Housing of orchestrating a brazen scheme to pilfer millions of Naira.
The claims allege a “premeditated and coordinated scheme” involving the falsification of records, criminal conspiracy, and the creation of entirely fabricated identities to siphon off compensation money.
Barrister Chidi Odo Esq., representing the affected communities, stated, “Our clients have been systematically defrauded. Government records may claim landowners have been duly compensated, but this is a blatant falsehood. We have evidence of numerous individuals appearing on the compensation list who simply do not exist, receiving payments into fraudulent bank accounts. Meanwhile, genuine landowners have been either excluded entirely or shamefully shortchanged.”
The allegations centre around the inclusion of “ghost” beneficiaries, payments made to individuals with no legitimate claim to land, and the deliberate under-declaration of compensation owed to rightful owners.
The petitions demand a full forensic audit of compensation registers, verification against official land records, and the tracing of funds to identify the perpetrators.
The Abia State Government has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations, which are likely to trigger a full-scale investigation.
