Governor Alex Otti of Abia State is facing criticism after allocating N50 million to Ken Ahia, SAN & Associates, a law firm owned by his political ally and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Kenneth Ahia.
The firm was engaged to negotiate and review a road construction contract for the Port Harcourt Road project in Aba.
Documents dated October 5, 2023, reveal that the Abia State Ministry of Justice, led by Attorney General Ikechukwu Uwanna, sought Governor Otti’s approval for the payment. Initially proposed at N60 million, the professional fee was reduced to N50 million after further negotiations. The ministry cited the complexity of the project as justification for the fee, which was labeled as a “discounted professional fee.”
Kenneth Ahia, a supporter of Otti, had previously donated two buses for Otti’s 2023 governorship campaign. Ahia’s law firm also represented Otti at the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The decision to allocate millions to Ahia’s firm has sparked public outcry, with many Nigerians criticizing what they perceive as excessive government spending. Earlier in 2024, Otti’s administration faced scrutiny when a budget error listed N1.5 billion for the purchase of two Toyota Hilux vehicles. Governor Otti later clarified that the actual amount was N150 million, blaming the discrepancy on a software glitch.
