Anambra Debts Row: Ex-SSG Oseloka Obaze Testifies To Obi’s Handover Of Funds To Obiano

A former Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Oseloka Obaze, has testified that he was present when former governor Peter Obi handed over financial documents to his successor, Willie Obiano, containing details of funds and liabilities inherited by the incoming administration.

Obaze, who served as SSG under Obi and continued partly in the same position under Obiano, gave the account in a post on his verified Instagram page on Thursday.

His testimony followed a recent claim by the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo that the state inherited debts of about N127.37 billion from the administrations of Obi and Obiano as of mid-June 2026.

Obi had responded by releasing the handover note he presented to Obiano on March 17, 2014, disputing claims that his administration left substantial indebtedness.

According to the document released by Obi, the handover contained details of assets and balances, including local investments valued at N27 billion, foreign currency investments of N26.5 billion, state and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) balances of N28.17 billion, as well as an approved Federal Government refund of N10 billion.

Obi said the net balance was approximately N86.66 billion after liabilities were taken into account.

Obaze said he personally witnessed the signing and receipt of the handover documents by both governors.

He said, “As the incumbent SSG of Anambra under @PeterObi at the time he left office on 17 March, 2014, I had the honour of personally being present when Peter Obi signed the attached handover letter.

“I was also present, when Gov. Willie Obiano received and signed an acknowledgement for his own copy of the letter, complete with the annexed certified bank statements, related documents and the Handover Report. The letter listed assets and liabilities – in black and red.”

Obaze also recalled the 2017 Anambra governorship debate organised by Channels Television, where he said Obiano stated that there were no funds left by the Obi administration.

He said he subsequently questioned Obiano on how, as a certified accountant and auditor, he could have accepted the financial documents at the point of handover while later expressing reservations about the funds.

According to Obaze, Obiano subsequently acknowledged during the debate that specified funds had been left behind, while questioning the rationale for saving money when there was work to be done.

The former SSG further cited an account attributed to former Taraba State governor Darius Ishaku, who he said told members of the Nigerian press corps that Obiano had disclosed to him that Obi left substantial funds that enabled his administration to independently construct the Anambra Airport at Umueri.

Obaze also said former Abia State governor Alex Otti had publicly corroborated the claim that funds were left by the Obi administration, citing Otti’s background in banking.

He, therefore, questioned the basis of the current dispute over the financial position inherited by successive administrations in Anambra State.

“If Gov. Obiano to whom Peter Obi handed over to in 2014 would eventually acknowledge -implicitly and explicitly – that Gov. Peter Obi indeed left the stipulated funds; a fact that was also publicly corroborated by Gov. Alex Otti, in his capacity as an ex-banker, what then, one may ask, is the beef and grouse of the incumbent Anambra State Government?” Obaze said.