Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has debunked the claim by a group that the state government, under his watch, has received N70b from oil tax earnings.

The group had accused the governor of receiving such money for the development of the oil-bearing communities in Ohaji/ Egbema Local Council, accusing the governor of not utilising the funds to provide basic infrastructure in those areas.

In a statement, at the weekend, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary / Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the governor maintained that the claim was false.

The governor said: “No such money was released to the state government. This government runs an open and transparent process. There is no way such a huge amount of N70b could be released to the state government as accrued taxes, secretly.”

He advised those who held a press conference to take such stance to desist from that insinuation.

“The truth is that the information is false. Those behind the press conference should desist from raising false alarm,” he said.