The long-running war of figures between Anambra State and former Governor Peter Obi exploded on Friday as the Soludo administration released a damning document showing approval for N363.381 million as second tranche payment for salary arrears Obi allegedly left unpaid.
The document, dated May 24, 2025, was signed by then Head of Service, Dame Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, and addressed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
It seeks approval for the payment to workers, pensioners and next of kin of the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency under an out-of-court settlement reached on February 6, 2024, with the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations.
It reads in part: “That the agreed second tranche payment of Three Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand Naira only (N363,381,000.00) is due for disbursement in line with the Terms of Settlement.”
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The New Media Office of the state posted it on X with a stinging caption: “PART 3: EVIDENCE THAT LYING IS IN PETER OBI’S DNA.”
“The Soludo administration paid the first tranche… Gov Soludo has now, also, paid the second. Peter Obi knows we know he’s lying,” the post said.
The release came barely 24 hours after Obi insisted on Arise TV that he left no unpaid salaries.
“On the day I left office, the government of Anambra State was not owing any salary, gratuity, or pension,” Obi had declared.
$123m Loan Controversy: Obi Fights Back
Obi also denied leaving $123.77 million in external loans. He argued the figure lumps together approved facilities, actual drawdowns and outstanding balances.
“As Governor of Anambra State, I did not approach any financial institution to borrow funds,” he said, citing former DMO DG Abraham Nwankwo who allegedly called him the only governor in 10 years who never sought a loan.
He explained the eight facilities were World Bank and IFAD programmes negotiated by the Federal Government and passed to states, not commercial loans he personally secured.
He questioned DMO data showing external debt was about $30 million when he left in March 2014 and $45.15 million by December 2014, asking how $123.77 million could be attributed to him.
$156m Investment Claim Not Enough — Govt
Obi insisted he left over $150 million in dollar investments capable of generating $10 million yearly, enough to offset any debt.
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“If they had chosen to repay the US$92.35 million funding, the entire amount would have been covered, leaving approximately US$242 million,” he argued.
But Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chukwukadibia Okoye, said Obi has questions to answer.
“In public accounting, nobody refuses to account for a valid liability,” Okoye said. “The issue is whether the handover statement provided a complete picture.”
He queried the valuation of assets, noting an investment in Intafact had lost almost 80% value, and asked if uncompleted projects were presented as cash investments.
“The $156 million argument does not settle the controversy. What were the State’s complete liabilities on that date?”
