Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ordered an investigation into allegations that the July 2026 salary of a driver attached to the Government House, Umuahia, was blocked by two state officials.

The Director-General of the Office of Due Process and Public Procurement Bureau, Mr Oluebube Chukwu, was alleged to have directed the Accountant-General of Abia State, Njum Uma-Onyemenam, to stop the payment of the junior worker’s salary as punishment for an undisclosed offence.

The directive was allegedly carried out by the Accountant-General.

The matter was brought to the governor’s attention on Thursday during his monthly media chat with journalists in Abia State.

Responding to the allegation, Otti said he was not aware of any such action involving his Special Assistant and the state Accountant-General.

The governor expressed doubt that his appointees would take such an unauthorised action and directed the Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Meribeole, to obtain further details and ensure that the matter was thoroughly investigated.

Otti maintained that the arbitrary or vindictive withholding of a worker’s salary had no place in his administration.

“But as I said, even as the governor, I cannot instruct that somebody’s name be removed from the payroll.

“Even if I give such an instruction, you must follow due process,” Governor Otti said.