Former Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio has described
claims that he looted over N1 trillion while he was governor of Akwa Ibom State
as a plot by those who want to blackmail him out of contest for presidency of
10th senate presidency.
Akpabio reacted to the allegation in a statement by his
Chief Press Secretary to Akpabio, Mr Jackson Udom.
“Investigation is no conviction. Every public officer could
be investigated after leaving office and that is the right thing to do,” Udom
said while reacting to call by some civil society organisations under the aegis
of Network Against Corruption And Trafficking (NACAT) that Economic Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate his boss over alleged financial
impropriety.
While making the call at a news conference on Tuesday in
Abuja, Justice Ojefia, Executive Director, Legal, NACAT claimed that Akpabio
looted at least N700 billion for Akwa Ibom State treasury and over N200 billion
NDDC funds as a minister.
According to him, audit report of Akwa Ibom State treasury
between 2011 and 2015 indicated that Akpabio committed financial infractions
amounting to N1trillion while serving as governor.
He said the financial infractions and irregularities range
from circumvention of procurement processes, suspicious payments of monies,
possible money laundering to award of contracts to non-existent Shell
Companies.
“These financial manipulations have cost the good people of
Akwa-Ibom State, money amounting to over N700 billion, under the watch of
Akpabio.
“To make Akpabio a Senate President is a reward for
monumental corruption orchestrated in Akwa Ibom and Ministry of Niger Delta and
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“Akpabio as governor looted over N1 trillion of Akwa Ibom
State treasury and over N200 billion NDDC funds as a minister.
“How will Akpabio be
allowed to preside over the same Senate when he accused the entire Senators as
being behind the corruption in NDDC during the NDDC probe?
He said that giving Akpabio Senate President mandate is to
whittle down the fight against corruption.
“He will enact laws that will weaken the EFCC and ICPC since
he has cases with them,’’ Ojefia said.
But Jackson Udom refuted the allegation said every public
officer could be investigated after leaving office.
“Investigation is no conviction. Every public officer could
be investigated after leaving office and that is the right thing to do.
“Sen. Akpabio left office eight years ago after a
meritorious service to Akwa Ibom and his legacies and performance as the state
governor from 2007-2015, are still visible in the state.
“The question then is, why this letter to the EFCC now? Why
all these blackmail and lies now? The answer is not far-fetched.
“Akpabio wants to be Senate President, he remains the
candidate to beat and he must be brought down at all costs by those who can’t
match his acceptance by his colleagues.
“His colleagues in the Stability Group are working round the
clock to make him the Senate President of the 10th Senate, through the support
of their colleagues across party lines.
“Their major concern is to give stability to the
President-elect’s administration when it comes on stream on May 29, 2023,’’
Udom said. (NAN)
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Tinubu has not been sworn-in yet but we can see the character of those he has endorsed for senate presidency. Old thieves and criminals in the waiting. Tufia Kwa.
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