Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, grilled former Governor Godswill Akpabio for over seven hours, and confronted him with evidence of alleged financial impropriety while he held sway in Akwa Ibom State.
The interrogation of Akpabio by the agency, it was learnt, made it possible for him to come face-to- face with what was described as major financial transactions, on the second day with operatives, carried out by his administration, consequent upon which he was asked to provide explanation..
The transactions, estimated at N108 billion, according to EFCC sources, were, however, said to have been stoutly defended by Akpabio, who claimed he had the power as governor to authorize such monumental expenditure “in the interest of the state and its people”.
The anti-graft agency, acting on petitions filed against Akpabio and his administration, had, on Friday, summoned the former governor and grilled him. Sources claimed that evidence extracted from the accounts staff in Uyo Government House as well as ministries, agencies and departments was used to confront the Senate Minority Leader yesterday.
One of the sources told newsmen that the former governor was still being grilled by the EFCC operatives as at 6pm after he arrived the headquarters around 11:45am.
“The former governor is still with our operatives, who are taking him up on a number of financial transactions that required clarifications from him and his officials”, the source added.
“We really need to know how and why certain transactions were carried out and if such huge withdrawals in certain cases, based on evidence before us, complied with laid down financial regulations or the said amount of money was wrongly spent.”
But the former governor denied any wrongdoing, while claiming that the allegations were tissues of lies.
Akpabio, who spoke through Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said those accusing him of impropriety did not know the workings of government.
Umanah said:”Every sum withdrawn from a government account is tied to a subhead and there must be a budgetary provision. To attribute fraud to withdrawals, which had the full sanction of government and was accommodated in the budget, is strange, mischievous and untenable. More so, when one understands that there are checks and balances which guide all aspects of government financial administration.”
He said the allegation that the state government spent N50 billion on the March general elections falls flat based on his explanation of the workings of government on financial transactions.
“There was no such provision in the budget of this year and such an amount could not have been paid as an extra-budgetary expenditure and yet salaries and other commitments were met. We challenge the petitioners to provide proof to support this wild allegation. Who was it paid to? How was it paid? Where was it paid? And when was it paid,”the commissioner said.
“Senator Akpabio does not own a 25-storey building in Victoria Island or in any part of the world, as alleged by the petitioner. It is also patent falsehood that the house at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi belongs to Senator Akpabio.
“It is a rented building which ownership can be verified from the Lagos State Lands Registry.
“Senator Akpabio does not own the properties mentioned in the petition to belong to him. You can verify the ownership of the properties (5 Okokosi Close, Maitama and Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama) from the land registry in Abuja,” he said.
He also denied that the state received over N2 trillion as oil allocation.
“Please do note that the idea that the Akwa Ibom State government received over N2.5 trillion in the eight years of the Akpabio administration is an outrageous lie.
“What this suggests is that the state government received an average of N26 billion monthly for the period. What a lie! From published accounts of disbursement from the Federation Account, Akwa Ibom State never received up to N26 billion in any month throughout the period”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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The question in my mind now is: Why is Ex. Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi not being grilled by the EFCC for selling the 3 power plants in Rivers State to private individuals for 53 Billion naira and making the money disappear into different accounts with no known names and none existing house addresses in Trans-Amamdi in Port Harcourt? This anti-corruption war of Buhari tire me ooooo!
ReplyDeleteYou are very myopic. Anyone that is accused automatically become a criminal abi? There's always 2 sides of a coin
DeleteSometimes I wonder and chuckle on how uniteligent some people can be. If you can't contribute pls shot the dirty mouth.The subject is on Akpabio not Rotimi.let us talk exhaustively on Akpabio. Tomorrow is another day for Rotimi.
DeleteIf you have evidence please write to EFCC and they will invite Amaechi. EFCC cannot act based on your comment on Nigerianeye. Afterall it is Akpabios stateman who exposed him so why are you crying here. Let the Rivers Pdp noise makers bring out their evidence against Amaechi.
Delete@ Anonymous 2 & 3: If abusing people is what u were thought by your parents from childhood, then u are most to be pitied. Sanity and courtesy demands that u present a counter argument when another person has presented an opinion. You have no right whatsoever to shut any one up. These are the attitudes that has set this country backwards, and it must stop. Anonymous 2, in facing reality, who between u and Anonymous 1 is more myopic. Is it not u (Anonymous 2) who are so shortsighted that u cannot see the bigger picture? And here u are using a word that u don't fully appreciate the full extent of its application. For your learning: MYOPIC = Shortsightedness.....Got it! So practically speaking, Anonymous 1 was more far sighted than Anonymous 2 because he or she saw beyond Akpabio's case. Anonymous 2 & 3 should please learn the civilized way of responding to opinions that differs from theirs and hurt them from Ohiozei Obaseki.
DeleteI agree with Ohiozei Obaseki that Rivers PDP should report Amaechi to EFCC if they have any case against him. I want to go further to suggest that when that is done, they should make it public and let us see what EFCC and GMB will do about it. All this side talks and probe commissions are not helping the country at all.
Then why was the Lagos state former governor Fashiola not arrested by EFCC. He also stated backed up the allegation against him. However, it is a clear case of fraud because I am also a programmer and such amount is not justified in the building of web applications.
DeleteI KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. IF YOU ARE AN APC MEMBER AND YOU ARE IN GOOD TERMS WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP THEN YOU ARE A "SACRED COW" (Our Vice President made a mistake for saying there will be no sacred cow, because I can see a some sacred cows going away. THIS MAKES OUR VP A LIAR.) Quite disappointing. They are already looking for the English to twist and make Ameachi a Scared Cow. THIS SHOWS THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IS RATHER A FIGHT AGAINST POLITICAL ENEMIES AND NOT CORRUPTION. It is wrong to arrest someone to give explanation. They are only to invite for explanation. Why was Ameachi not arrested for explanation. Reason: HE IS A SACRED COW. Corruption still continued depending on who your friend is.
To show honesty the why Akpabio was arrested for explanation. Ameachi should be arrested for explannation
Hello Ohiozei Obaseki, there are clear evidence that have being tabled before the authorities. They are playing politics with it
DeleteFashiola's web site needs no evidence because Fashiola admitted it. As a programmer I know it is a big fraud. IT IS A DEAD STORY BECAUSE FASHIOLA IS A SACRED COW. OUR VICE PRESIDENT HAVE LIED EVEN THOUGH HE IS A PASTOR. HE HAS KEPT SACRED COW
Like his comrade in crime, the only reason for this drilling is because he is a minority leader. I wonder why he is using a local SAN instead of importing a lawyer to accompany him. Recall he abandoned the multibillion naira ultramodern albeit substandard Akwa Ibom hospital for a UK hospital
ReplyDeleteBe informed b4 making gullible statements.
DeleteYes ooooo! Instead of Rotimi Amaechi being hounded by security operatives, he is being nominated for ministerial appointment. And from all indication, he may be appointed. The explanation is simple, the thieves who belong to APC are innocent but the suspects who belong to PDP are deemed guilty before the even the investigation starts. This is the Fulani man's interpretation of "I belong to no one." We never see anything yet.
ReplyDeleteSupported. ALL WE ARE SAYING ARREST AMEACHI NOW. INCLUDE FASHIOLA
DeleteEFCC should never invite and harrass accused persons without completing their investigations themselves! How can they arrest or invite people based on spurious allegations? This is not done in the civilised world. What happens then to those that file baseless petitions and waste the time of the Commission?
ReplyDeleteEFCC supposed to also arrest Ameachi instead they appointed him as a minister. HE IS A SACRED COW
DeleteEFCC should never invite and harrass accused persons without completing their investigations themselves! How can they arrest or invite people based on spurious allegations? This is not done in the civilised world. What happens then to those that file baseless petitions and waste the time of the Commission?
ReplyDeleteIf the war on corruption will succeed, let it go round. Whoever had the temerity and unashamed to soil his/her hands must answer for such an unwise action. A Tiv ashawo woman came into town and the bachelors were wild with exstacy and fighting each other on who should taste the fruit first, but the whore laughed sarcastically and told them not to worry that it will reach everybody. Don't worry it will go round. For hired noise makers and hirelings don't waste your breadth, if the SENATE PRESIDENT was touched it will definitely go round. JAY 2, Abuja.
ReplyDeleteWhy must it be a tiv woman? Why not an ashewo woman from your state? Ethnic bigot.
DeleteFools
ReplyDeleteSomebody partitioned the ex governor from his own house, how does it becomes PMB headache. Are we saying PMB should stop the agency from performing their duty because the accused belong to opposition party? If you have anything on Ameachi please assist EFCC with petition and see if PMB will ask EFCC to drop off the investigation and invitation. However gone are the days when these government agencies are only working for the president. Everybody has to do their duty now to receive salary. If many armed robbers robbed your property and you are able to catch few, I don't think it's Wise to say the few should be released because you can't catch all. All of them are thieves PDP or APC.
ReplyDeleteTHE TRUTH WOULD SOON SURFACE ON WHAT AKPABIO DID RIGHT OR WRONG IN THE OIL-RICH AKWA IBOM.
ReplyDeleteGUYS, NO QUARRELS, PLS! LET THE LAW TAKE ITS RIGHT COURSE AND NIGERIA WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT.
What about what Ameachi did. Has Ameachi become a SACRED COW
DeleteEFCC if you can arrest Akpabio just because of allegation then arrest Ameachi and Fashiola to prove they are not your SACRED COWS
ReplyDelete