Anambra Govt Tackles Peter Obi Over Alleged Debts, Unpaid Salaries, N2.13Bn Ecological Fund

The Anambra State Government has challenged former governor Peter Obi to account for alleged debts, unpaid salary and pension arrears, as well as the whereabouts of N2.13 billion in Ecological Fund he reportedly said was left in a First Bank account at the end of his tenure.

The Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, made the allegations in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026, titled, “Peter Obi’s Debts and Lies: More Questions Than Answers.”

Mefor said the statement was in response to Obi’s recent interview on Arise TV, where the former governor addressed claims concerning the financial position of Anambra State when he handed over power in March 2014.

According to the commissioner, Obi’s administration signed eight IDA-World Bank loans totalling $123,771,179.30 during his eight-year tenure.

He said the Debt Management Office report as of June 30, 2026, showed an outstanding balance of $92.35 million, equivalent to N127.37 billion, which successive administrations had continued to service through monthly deductions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

Mefor challenged Obi’s argument that he did not personally approach the World Bank or the DMO to obtain the loans, saying the state government became liable after signing the relevant loan agreements.

The commissioner also accused the former governor of leaving salary, pension and gratuity arrears.

He alleged that more than 700 workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation were owed salaries, pensions and gratuities by the state government, citing a 2009 arbitration decision and a 2019 National Industrial Court judgment.

According to him, the current administration entered into an out-of-court settlement with the affected workers on February 26, 2024, for N1.563 billion, of which N1.199 billion had been paid.

Mefor further alleged that 11 months of pension arrears owed to primary school teachers had remained unpaid, saying Obi inherited 16 months of arrears from the administration of former governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, paid five months and left the remaining 11 months outstanding.

The commissioner also took issue with Obi’s argument concerning savings allegedly left by his administration.

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He said Obi had cited about $150 million saved in banks and argued that the funds could have generated interest sufficient to service outstanding loans if they had remained untouched by his successor, Willie Obiano.

Mefor argued that government funds should also be considered in terms of their use for public infrastructure, security and citizens’ welfare, rather than solely as financial savings.

He listed alleged challenges at the time, including poverty, insecurity, poor infrastructure, inadequate public schools and healthcare facilities, lack of pipe-borne water and erosion.

On the handover note presented by Obi during the Arise TV interview, Mefor alleged that it placed emphasis on assets while failing to disclose substantial liabilities.

He claimed that the document included valuations for uncompleted projects such as the Nnewi Shopping Mall, Onitsha Hotel and Agulu Lake Hotel, as well as a purported N10 billion Federal Government refund which, according to him, had not been received before Obi left office.

The commissioner further alleged that Obi’s administration had awarded contracts for 101 roads covering 779 kilometres, with outstanding liabilities of N127 billion at the time of handover.

Mefor said the alleged road liabilities, together with other obligations, meant Obi left a net liability rather than net assets for his successor.

The commissioner also raised questions over an alleged N2.13 billion Ecological Fund which Obi reportedly said was in a First Bank account when he handed over power on March 17, 2014.

According to Mefor, First Bank, in a letter dated September 16, 2026, stated that account number 2018779464 cited by Obi was actually the Anambra State Government’s IGR Consolidated Account and not an ecological fund account.

He further claimed that the bank confirmed that the account balance on March 17, 2014, was not close to N2 billion and that the account never carried N2.13 billion as an inflow or balance during its active period from 2011 to 2018.

Mefor therefore asked Obi to explain the whereabouts of the alleged N2.13 billion.

The commissioner said the state government was responding because Obi had challenged anyone to prove that his administration left debts, salary or pension arrears when it handed over power.

He urged the former governor to acknowledge the issues raised and apologise to the people of Anambra State and Nigeria.