Public anger has erupted in Anambra State following reports of an alleged N100 million transfer from a state government account into a bank account said to belong to Victor Egbetokun, son of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to an online report by Sahara Reporters, the funds were transferred in four instalments of N25 million each.
Reacting during a live television appearance, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, reportedly acknowledged the development, stating that the ex-IGP’s son confirmed receipt of the money and was immediately advised to instruct his bank to reverse the transaction, which was subsequently done.
Despite the reported reversal, the development has generated heated debate across the state, with many residents questioning the management of public funds under Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Some residents argued that the circumstances surrounding the transfer raise concerns, noting that the beneficiary allegedly has no known business dealings with the state government.
They expressed surprise that such a large sum could be paid into the account of a private individual outside the state.
A public affairs analyst, Kingsley Ubani, faulted the incident, querying how the transfer occurred and who authorised it.
He described the development as troubling, particularly for a state led by a former Central Bank governor reputed for financial expertise.
He asked whether similar transfers might have occurred unnoticed in the past and insisted that residents deserved a detailed explanation.
Another indigene, Peter Ndukaike, criticised what he described as the state government’s silence on the matter, saying the lack of immediate clarification had deepened public suspicion.
He warned that if such an amount could be moved in error, it raised broader concerns about financial controls.
Journalist Fisayo Soyombo also weighed in on social media, questioning how an alleged erroneous transfer of such magnitude ended up in the account of a relative of the nation’s top internal security official.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime, dismissed insinuations linking the transaction to the state government.
He maintained that the transfer was neither initiated nor authorised by the Anambra State Government, describing it as an error that had since been corrected.
Aburime added that the incident occurred months ago and had been resolved, reiterating that Governor Soludo is known for prudence in financial management and would not condone the misuse of public funds.