By Tgnews Team
A storm of controversy has engulfed Ebonyi State as the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) demands the immediate dismissal of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Grace Umezuruike, following allegations of diverting over N1 billion in state funds.
The group has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Francis Nwifuru to sack the SSG, condemning the state government’s response to what they describe as a “heinous financial crime” that underscores pervasive corruption in the state.
The uproar stems from a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where Justice Maureen Onyetenu granted an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 8, 2025, ordering the interim forfeiture of over N1 billion allegedly diverted by Professor Umezuruike and her aide, Ngene Nwanna Onyeabor.
According to court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the EFCC alleged that the funds, intended for the purchase of rice and other essentials for Ebonyi residents during the 2024 Christmas celebration, were siphoned into six bank accounts, including four linked to the SSG and one belonging to her aide containing N1.014 billion. A sixth account, registered under Affordable Multi Services Nigeria Limited, was also implicated.
The funds, intended for the purchase of rice and other essentials for Ebonyi residents during the 2024 Christmas celebration, were siphoned into six bank accounts
The EFCC’s application sought a 60-day interim forfeiture pending the case’s final determination and directed the respondents to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The agency’s move followed a petition by social critic Nwoba Chika, whose whistleblowing prompted the anti-graft agency to freeze the accounts and launch a discreet investigation.
In a fiery statement released on Tuesday, AEISCID President Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu expressed outrage at the alleged diversion, describing it as a symptom of rampant corruption under Governor Nwifuru’s administration.
The group argued that the scale of financial misconduct in Ebonyi surpasses that of all previous administrations since the return of democracy in 1999. “Cases of corruption have been more prevalent in the current leadership of the state under Governor Nwifuru—arguably more than all the past administrations combined,” Oluchukwu stated.
The group lambasted the governor, a trained lawyer, for failing to suspend the SSG despite the establishment of a prima facie case by the EFCC. “What else does the Governor need to understand that once a prima facie case has been established, the SSG should have been asked to step aside immediately?” the statement read. AEISCID emphasized that suspending Umezuruike is a standard ethical practice to ensure an unhindered investigation, free from the influence of her powerful office and connections within the government.
Cases of corruption have been more prevalent in the current leadership of the state under Governor Nwifuru—arguably more than all the past administrations combined
The diaspora group further criticized the state government’s posture, calling it “thoroughly shameful” and accusing it of downplaying the allegations’ severity. Governor Nwifuru, speaking at a church service in Abakaliki on July 20, 2025, maintained that Umezuruike is “presumed innocent until proven guilty” and declined immediate action, citing the need to await the court’s final judgment.
“I am a lawyer, and I know it is imperative to establish the facts before judgment to avoid setting wrong precedents,” Nwifuru said, adding that he is monitoring the court process and will act decisively if necessary.
What else does the Governor need to understand that once a prima facie case has been established, the SSG should have been asked to step aside immediately?
AEISCID rejected this stance, urging the governor to join the lawsuit as a party to ensure that any recovered funds are returned to Ebonyi for public benefit. “The government must show cause by entering the suit before the Federal High Court so that, if the loot is proven to belong to the state, it can be reclaimed and deployed for the common masses,” Oluchukwu asserted.
The alleged diversion has struck a nerve in Ebonyi, a state where “abject poverty walks the streets stark naked,” according to AEISCID. The group highlighted the irony of such a massive financial scandal in a region grappling with economic hardship and stalled development projects.
“There are many projects started by this administration which are yet to receive the needed attention, obviously due to the same grand-scale corruption that has been the order of the day,” the statement noted. The diverted funds, AEISCID argued, could address critical needs, from infrastructure to social welfare programs, in a state struggling with pervasive poverty.
The group also pointed to a broader pattern of financial mismanagement, calling on the EFCC to expand its investigations to include alleged looting by contractors over the past two years of Nwifuru’s administration and the preceding eight years under former Governor David Umahi.
“Ebonyi cannot breathe because former Governor Umahi is still holding the state by the neck and his successor strongly by the balls,” Oluchukwu alleged, accusing the current administration of enabling a culture of impunity.
We would follow through this matter till all the funds are not only recovered but those responsible for the alleged diversions are consequently brought to book
AEISCID vowed to monitor the EFCC’s investigation closely, promising to ensure that all diverted funds are recovered and those responsible are brought to justice. “We would follow through this matter till all the funds are not only recovered but those responsible for the alleged diversions are consequently brought to book,” the group declared. They also urged the EFCC to cast a wider net, targeting other instances of alleged financial misconduct that have plagued Ebonyi for over a decade.
The group’s 48-hour ultimatum places immense pressure on Governor Nwifuru, who has faced criticism for his administration’s handling of governance and accountability issues. Previous reports by AEISCID have accused Nwifuru of failing to assert full control over the state, alleging interference by Umahi and a lack of decisive action in appointing key officials.
The current scandal further fuels perceptions of a government struggling to uphold transparency and probity.
As the 48-hour deadline looms, all eyes are on Governor Nwifuru to see whether he will comply with AEISCID’s demand to suspend the SSG or risk further erosion of public trust. The outcome of the EFCC’s investigation and the Federal High Court’s final ruling will likely shape the political landscape in Ebonyi, a state at a crossroads between entrenched corruption and the promise of reform.
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