A statement by Cross River-based social commentator MC Okrika has become the centre of controversy following the circulation of a video from supporters of APC Central Senatorial District candidate, Hon. Oden Ewa, concerning their encounter at Hotel 45 in Ikom.
At the heart of the controversy is the claim that MC Okrika had previously admitted that Oden Ewa gave him ₦13 million for a water project, but later denied receiving the money.
BokiBlog Africa's review of the specific words attributed to MC Okrika shows that this characterization does not accurately reflect what he said.
MC Okrika's exact statement was:
«“I've never met Oden Ewa before, but Oden Ewa has given me a water project worth 13 million naira. Don't miss my words.”»
The distinction is important. MC Okrika said that Oden Ewa gave him a water project worth ₦13 million. He did not say that Oden Ewa gave him ₦13 million.
The statement describes the value of a project, not a cash payment personally received by MC Okrika.
The distinction becomes even more significant when compared with what Oden Ewa himself said during the subsequent meeting at Hotel 45. In the video circulated by Ewa's supporters, Ewa is heard saying:
«“I gave you 13 million naira that you have not accounted for.”»
That statement came from Oden Ewa, not MC Okrika.
Consequently, presenting MC Okrika's earlier statement as an admission that he personally collected ₦13 million from Ewa changes the meaning of his words. His statement was that Ewa had given him a water project worth ₦13 million; it was Ewa who later introduced the assertion that he had given MC Okrika ₦13 million which had not been accounted for.
According to the account surrounding the project, Ewa's own engineers handled the execution of the water project and were not connected to MC Okrika. The ₦13 million figure was therefore understood as the stated value of the project, rather than money handed directly to MC Okrika for him to execute the work.
This is particularly relevant because MC Okrika's public acknowledgment of Ewa's intervention appears to have been an expression of appreciation. By publicly identifying Ewa as the person who had provided a water project worth ₦13 million for the school project he was undertaking, MC Okrika was acknowledging what he regarded as a contribution to the community project.
That acknowledgment should not subsequently be transformed into a statement that he admitted collecting ₦13 million personally.
The Hotel 45 encounter also raises questions about how the video has been presented. According to the account surrounding the meeting, Ewa permitted members of his camp to record the encounter. The fact that a particular side recorded and circulated the meeting does not, on its own, establish that the encounter was staged or orchestrated. However, it makes the complete context of the recording important, particularly when individual statements are being used to establish a financial allegation.
The role of the Speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly as an intermediary between Ewa and MC Okrika is also part of the account of the meeting. The circumstances surrounding the intervention and the political interests of those involved are matters that may warrant further scrutiny, but they should not be confused with the narrow factual question this fact-check addresses.
That question is simple: Did MC Okrika say that Oden Ewa gave him ₦13 million?
The answer, based on his exact words, is no.
He said that Oden Ewa “has given me a water project worth 13 million naira.” He did not say, “Oden Ewa gave me 13 million naira.”
It was Oden Ewa who, during the Hotel 45 confrontation, said: “I gave you 13 million naira that you have not accounted for.”
Those are two different statements, made by two different people.
Therefore, the claim that MC Okrika admitted that Oden Ewa gave him ₦13 million is false and misleading. What MC Okrika acknowledged was a water project which he described as being worth ₦13 million. That statement cannot, without additional evidence, be converted into an admission that ₦13 million was personally handed to him.
If Ewa maintains that he personally gave MC Okrika ₦13 million, that is a separate allegation which requires its own evidence, including payment records, receipts, bank transfers, contracts or other verifiable documentation.
BokiBlog Africa's verdict: FALSE.
MC Okrika said “a water project worth ₦13 million.” He did not say “Oden Ewa gave me ₦13 million.” The ₦13 million payment allegation came from Oden Ewa himself during the Hotel 45 meeting and should not be retrospectively attributed to MC Okrika.
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