South East Good Governance Advocates dismisses viral social media claims as fabricated misinformation
ABUJA, Nigeria – The South East Good Governance Advocates (SEGGA) has dismissed viral social media reports claiming former Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was sentenced to death for embezzling N5 trillion, calling the allegation completely false.
SEGGA Points Out Major Holes in Viral Report
In a statement signed by Mark Onukwuwe, Coordinator, and Anozie Madu, Secretary, SEGGA pointed to several glaring inconsistencies that suggest the entire story was fabricated.
“For the sake of clarity, it is pertinent to note that there is no judicial officer by the name Emeka Nwogu serving in the Abia State judiciary, which raises significant doubts about the authenticity of the alleged court judgment,” the statement read.
Beyond the non-existent judge, there’s another problem: Nigerian law doesn’t classify corruption offenses as capital crimes. Death sentences are reserved for murder, treason, and certain terrorism charges, not financial crimes, no matter how large. The whole thing appears to be misinformation deliberately spread through social media.
The Math Doesn’t Add Up
SEGGA also challenged the embezzlement figures themselves, which don’t match reality.
“The facts of the matter are clear: Abia State did not attract up to N1 trillion in revenue during Ikpeazu’s eight-year tenure. The arithmetic does not support the claim in the report,” the statement explained.
It’s worth noting that state revenue records are public documents. Anyone can check them. If Abia State didn’t even generate N1 trillion during Ikpeazu’s entire eight years in office, how could he have embezzled N5 trillion? The numbers simply don’t work.
How Nigeria Actually Handles Corruption Cases
For context, corruption-related offenses in Nigeria carry penalties like fines, asset forfeiture, and prison time. Bodies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) handle these cases through established judicial procedures.
Any legitimate prosecution of a former governor would involve transparent court proceedings, verifiable documentation, and extensive media coverage from credible outlets, not just anonymous social media posts citing fake judges.
A Warning About Spreading Unverified Claims
SEGGA urged Nigerians to be more careful about what they share online.
“We urge the public to seek credible information and avoid spreading unverified claims,” the statement added.
The group also called on citizens to focus on actual issues affecting Abia State’s development, things like infrastructure projects and governance under the current administration, rather than getting distracted by fabricated scandals.
Why False Stories Like This Keep Spreading
Unfortunately, false reports targeting political figures have become increasingly common on Nigerian social media. These stories often go viral before fact-checkers can catch up, and by then, the damage may already be done.
Former governors, in particular, seem to become targets once they leave office. Political observers note that misinformation campaigns often ramp up when new administrations take over, possibly as a way to settle scores or distract from current governance challenges. Whether that’s the case here is unclear, but the timing is worth considering.
SEGGA’s Broader Message on Accountability
While dismissing the death sentence claims as fiction, SEGGA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparent governance in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
“SEGGA stands by the need for public discourse based on facts and urges all parties to focus on constructive governance,” the statement concluded.
The organization encouraged citizens to engage with verified information channels rather than amplifying social media rumors. Official government websites, established news organizations, and publicly available court records are all better sources for checking claims about public officials.
In an era where anyone can create and share sensational stories, taking a few extra minutes to verify information before hitting “share” might be one of the most important habits Nigerians can develop.
