Group challenges Uzodinma over mismanagement of N330 Billion FAAC Allocations in Imo

BY: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.

The Mazi Organization (TMO), a coalition of Imo State stakeholders advocating for transparency and good governance, has accused the governor, Hope Uzodimma of mismanaging the resources of the state to the tone of N330 billion.

The group declared a “state of emergency” in Imo State, highlighting what it described as “colossal malfeasance and maladministration” under Governor Uzodinma’s administration that threatens the state’s survival and recovery.

Speaking in a press conference, held in Owerri, TMO spokespersons, Cajethan Duke accused the Uzodinma-led administration of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation, blackmail, and malicious falsehoods aimed at silencing Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi, the group’s good governance advocate.

The event, titled “Press Conference by The Mazi Organization (TMO) on the Intimidation, Blackmail, Malicious Falsehood and Desperate Attempts to eliminate Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi by the Governor Hope Uzodinma Led Administration,” drew criticism against what TMO called a “hatchet job” executed through a proxy group known as the Greater Imo Initiative (GII).

“Gentlemen of the press, we warmly welcome you to this very important press conference, called to alert Nigerians on the dangerous dimension governance has taken in our dear state, Imo,”

Duke described GII as a “special purpose vehicle (SPV) created to hound individuals and groups who hold opposing views on issues of governance,” describing its recent actions as “poorly scripted” and “commissioned by the panic-stricken Uzodimma government.”

The conference is in response to a September 4, 2025, GII press conference, where the group leveled accusations of deliberate falsehoods, money laundering, and treasonable claims against Amadi and his associates. TMO dismissed these as “wild lies, malicious propaganda and laughable conspiracy theories involving cults, money rituals, INEC ballot printing, and imaginary offences,” calling it an “embarrassing descent into political buffoonery” designed to divert attention from accountability issues in local government allocations.

“Let us be clear, although this attempt by the administration was an insult-ridden drivel, we will not under any guise be dragged into that show of shame with an inept administration, because we hold the Office of the Governor of Imo State in high esteem even though the current occupant does everything to demean and disrespect such a position of trust.”

TMO, described their group as “a coalition of patriotic sons and daughters of Imo State, united in truth, guided by conscience and committed to accountability for the greater good of our state.”

They highlighted allegiance solely to the people of Imo, Nigeria, and “the God of justice.” The group resolved to declare the emergency following an internal meeting to address the GII’s appearance on Arise News, which TMO called “unfortunate, utterly disgusting, panic-driven, malicious falsehood and a show of shame,” as well as the broader “general state of the state.”

While stressing that the heart of the dispute is Amadi’s vocal criticism of the handling of local government funds. TMO revealed that Amadi’s “only crime” was aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in demanding the release of constitutionally guaranteed allocations to the 27 local government areas (LGAs), in line with Supreme Court judgments.

“Available records shows that, for almost six years, Governor Hope Uzodinma has cornered these funds, while the 27 local government areas rot in abject poverty.

Quoting statistics from the Federal Ministry of Finance, TMO reported that over N300 billion has accrued to Imo LGAs between 2020 and the present, yet “Council secretariats are overgrown with weeds, while not one local government can boast of a single functional project.” The group submitted: “Where has the money gone? Only Governor Hope Uzodinma can provide this answer.”

Amadi’s recent keynote address at the annual conference of the Catholic Men’s Organization at Maria Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri was highlighted as the trigger for the administration’s “heightened obsession” to silence him. In the lecture, Amadi questioned the gap between resources and results, stating: “Let us consider Imo State, our beloved state.

According to him, “by many measures, we are blessed with industrious people, rich culture, and substantial financial resources. “Despite the hardship you see, Imo’s LGAs have received massive allocations in recent years from FAAC. Money has been flowing—the question is, why has it not translated into better lives for ordinary people? This is the prophetic burden we must address: exposing the gap between resources given and results on the ground.”

He cited figures showing that between 2020 and 2025, the 27 LGAs collectively received over N330 billion in federal allocations, with Mbaitoli LGA alone getting about N15.63 billion and Nkwerre, the lowest, receiving N10.75 billion.

“Yet across the state, schools, health centres, sports facilities and roads remain in scandalous decay. That truth, backed by data, is what has unsettled Governor Uzodinma,” TMO stated.

The group supported Amadi’s position “in totality” and insisted that “every kobo that has accrued to Imo State since 2020 must be accounted for.” It pointed to the disappearance of FAAC allocations, ecological funds, and intervention funds from international partners like the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program as “too monumental to be swept under the carpet.”

TMO questioned the administration’s motives in criminalizing Amadi’s humanitarian efforts, such as assisting indigent families, asking: “What is the wrongdoing in assisting indigent families? Why is the Imo State government intimidated and desperate to criminalize humanitarian efforts, instead of commending the benefactor? Does it imply that Governor Uzodinma is not saddled with more important state matters that he is so disturbed by an innocent outreach?”

Duke highlighted that Amadi represents a “mirror reflecting their corruption back to them,” challenging the government to publish “detailed audited reports of FAAC receipts and expenditures, backed by empirical data” to disprove the claims. “Let them show what was done with over N330 billion received on behalf of the LGAs and prove the existence of projects on ground. Silence, propaganda and character assassination cannot wash away facts,” he stated.

Rather than pursuing baseless calls for Amadi’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of naira abuse, TMO issued a “solemn demand” to the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Police, and other agencies to investigate several scandals linked to Uzodinma. These includes:

The Calabar dredging scandal, a $12 million contract fraud through his company, investigated by the Obla panel.
A N200 million dishonoured cheque case referred to the EFCC.
Non-declaration of assets, filed by the federal government before the Recovery of Public Property panel.

Additionally, TMO called for forensic probes into the disappearance of LGA allocations, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds, ecological funds, WASH, and USAID intervention funds, which it said have “grown wings and vanished into only Uzodinma knows where—while Imo people wallow in poverty.”

They called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure accountability processes are not stalled, insisting that “Governor Hope Uzodinma must not escape justice for the monumental looting and reckless mismanagement of public resources.”

The TMO organization, advised President Tinubu, to exercise vigilance against Uzodinma, whom it accused of potentially scheming to undermine the president’s interests ahead of 2027 in pursuit of ambitions for vice presidency or Senate presidency. “Mr. President, please beware,” the statement highlighted.

TMO also demanded that the Imo State House of Assembly publish details of all approved loan requests for the administration and probe all loans approved and unapproved received by Uzodinma’s government. It challenged GII to endorse these demands if truly committed to law and order.

“Credible reports” that individuals in a “stage-managed video” by GII were “not even from Imo but imported from neighbouring states,” and that some Imo recruits rejected the script upon realizing its “lies and misrepresentations.”

More alarmingly, the group accused the administration of “weaponizing state institutions” against Amadi, citing a letter dated August 12, 2025 (allegedly backdated) from the Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS), signed by Executive Chairman Prince R. Okoye, demanding N17 million in arrears for “income tax from 2019 to 2024.”

“Nigerians must at this point note the disturbing dimensions the Uzodinma administration is taking in its desperation to silence Dr. Amadi and other voices of reason in the state. This latest demand letter, coming alongside death threats from faceless groups, is not about tax, rather one of the sinister ploys to eliminate him by all means necessary.”

TMO submitted that the demand is illegal under Section 2(2) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 (as amended), which limits tax collection to the state of residence. A follow-up IIRS letter dated September 4 referenced personal income tax liability, but TMO noted Amadi’s residency during the period was outside Imo State, stripping the state of jurisdiction. It further cited a 2020 Court of Appeal judgment clarifying that tax obligations follow residence, not work location, and that Amadi does not qualify as an “itinerant worker” under the Act—defined as one working in multiple states for at least 20 days in three months of an assessment year without a fixed residence.

“This makes it abundantly clear that the so-called tax demand is not only malicious but illegal and indeed a crude attempt at intimidation and character assassination dressed up as fiscal compliance.The Imo State Government must be told in unmistakable terms that citizens have no obligation to obey unconstitutional orders or demands that breach extant laws and the Nigerian Constitution.”

They appealed to “all patriotic Imolites, democrats, lovers of Imo, civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups to rise and resist these illegalities,” framing the battle as “not about one man, but about defending truth, justice, and the sanctity of our laws.”

The group dismissed Uzodinma’s alleged mockery of Amadi as an “Alhaji without a village” and sponsorship of rag-tag groups, petitions, and life threats as desperate tactics. They refuted claims of Amadi “dropping the President’s name,” accusing Uzodinma of being the true “name-dropper” who thrived under former President Muhammadu Buhari through sycophancy but faltered under Tinubu’s “zero tolerance” for such antics.

They labeled accusations of cultism against Amadi, as“childish and laughable,” with TMO stressing: “If caring for the poor makes Dr. Amadi a member of a cult, then we appeal to Governor Uzodinma to join that cult of compassion and humanity in the interest of the suffering masses.”

TMO kicked against Uzodinma’s alleged plot to use Amadi as “bait” to malign INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, calling it a “deliberate” and “cowardly” attack on a “scholar and public officer” of “painstaking, patriotic trajectory.” The group demanded a retraction and unreserved apology from the Imo government to Tinubu, Yakubu, and Nigerians for “this unfortunate blackmail on our collective sensibilities.”

It recalled Uzodinma’s “dark record of alleged electoral compromise,” including the 2021 “Omuma Magic” scandal exposed by whistleblowers and Ugochinyere, questioning how “this same man now postures as a defender of morality.”

TMO expressed gratitude to Imo residents for their “unwavering prayers and support” amid the “desperate propaganda and intimidation,” urging unity across political, religious, and professional lines to rescue the state from collapse. “Imo has endured enough. The hemorrhage must stop. The looting must end. The truth must prevail. The Egyptians you see today, you shall see no more.”

They called on Amadi and other advocates to “remain unbowed” in leading the charge for accountability and transparency*.