Trump, UK, China, Others Told to Issue Travel Ban on Top Southeast Governor
- APC-backed Abia Interest Association petitioned foreign governments to impose visa bans on Governor Alex Otti over alleged ₦54bn school funds mismanagement
- The group alleged over ₦78bn was spent between 2023–2025 without transparency
- It urged the US, UK, EU, AU and others to restrict Otti’s travel until he accounts for funds, accusing him of misrepresenting federal projects as state achievements
An All Progressives Congress (APC) support group in Abia state, the Abia Interest Association (A.B.I.A), has petitioned foreign governments to impose a visa ban on Abia governor, Alex Otti.
Pointedly, the group in a statement cited by Legit.ng, on Wednesday, September 24, raised alarm over alleged mismanagement of public funds.
Source: UGC
The group said it had written to the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the European Union and the African Union, demanding restrictions until Otti accounts for billions of naira spent on school projects.
Abia state: N54bn allegedly mismanaged on school projects
Speaking in Abuja, the group’s Convener, Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, alleged that Otti’s administration had failed to provide proof of the ₦54 billion claimed to have been spent on renovating 51 smart schools in 2024.
“Rather than producing evidence, the governor has sought to confuse the public by presenting federal ASUBEB projects as the same as the smart schools,” Chikamnayo said.
Abia group accuses government of diversion
He further alleged that over ₦78 billion had been spent between mid-2023 and 2025 without transparency.
“Our investigations show that over 95 per cent of Abia’s public schools remain in dire condition, with broken classrooms, no fences, and no learning equipment. This completely contradicts the state’s budgetary claims,” he added.
Petition calls for visa denial
The association urged governments and international bodies to deny Otti visas, accusing him of using foreign trips to escape scrutiny.
“We have petitioned America, Britain, France, Germany, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the EU and the AU to stop him from travelling until he explains where the funds have gone,” Chikamnayo stressed.
Demand for transparency in governance
Source: UGC
The group also accused the Labour Party-led administration of misrepresenting federal road projects as state achievements.
“This is about the future of Abia’s children. Corruption in education strips them of opportunities and violates their rights. Governor Otti cannot be allowed to sweep this scandal under the carpet,” Chikamnayo concluded.
Trump, UK told to ban Zamfara gov
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN) has petitioned the US and UK governments to slam a travel ban on Zamfara state Governor, Dauda Lawal.
The group said the reason for the call boils down to what it described as his failure to end terrorism and banditry in the state. The CCN argued that sanctioning Governor Lawal would be in line with international precedents where leaders complicit in terrorism were penalised.
In a petition dated 16 September 2025, signed by Dr Emmanuel Agabi, Executive Secretary of CCN, the group alleged that Governor Lawal’s inability to act, despite claims of having intelligence on bandits and terrorists, amounted to “incompetence and complicity.”
Source: Legit.ng
