The Chief Executive Officer of the South East Development Commission, SEDC, Mark Okoye II, has responded to allegations raised during a Senate committee probe into the commission’s finances, clarifying that N153 million flagged by lawmakers was not spent on a single room in Abuja.
In a public statement released Tuesday, Okoye said the sum covered expenses for the SEDC Abuja Liaison Office located at the Congress Building in Maitama. The office, he explained, serves as the commission’s operational base for engagements with the National Assembly, federal ministries and agencies, development finance institutions, and strategic partners.
“The total amount of N153 million covered the cost of establishing and running the office from February 2025 till date,” Okoye stated.
“This includes rent, operational costs, utilities, and basic fit-out works across the entire period.”
The clarification follows questioning from the Senate committee over the accountability of funds disbursed to the SEDC. Okoye noted that the commission has already initiated plans to relocate its headquarters to an existing building in Enugu State to reduce operational costs and ease pressure on public resources.
The SEDC was established to drive development projects across the South East region.
