An anti-corruption group, under the auspices of the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to look into allegations of financial misconduct and money laundering of N700 billion by Godswill Akpabio.
NACAT Executive Director, Samson Tega, and Operational Manager, Stanley Ugagbe, made the appeal in a statement that also cited an audit report of the Akwa Ibom State government account for the period of 2011 to 2015.
The group said it embarked on a comprehensive investigation of the Akwa Ibom State government account between 2011 and 2015 and discovered financial infractions and irregularities ranging from circumvention of procurement processes, suspicious payments of monies, possible money laundering, to award of contracts to non-existent Shell companies.
According to the group, “Giving Akpabio Senate president mandate is to whittle down the fight against corruption as he will enact laws that will weaken the EFCC and ICPC since he has cases with them”.
However, the spokesperson of Akpabio, Jackson Udom, in response, described the allegations as blackmail and lies geared towards truncating Akpabio’s chances of becoming the Senate president.
“Investigation is not conviction. Every public officer could be investigated after leaving office and that is the right thing to do. Akpabio left office eight years ago after a meritorious service to Akwa Ibom State and his legacies and performance as the state governor from 2007 to 2015, are still visible in all nook and crannies of the state.
“The question then is, why this letter to the EFCC now? Why all these blackmails 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 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,” he said.
