24th May, 2023
By Ikenna Uwadileke
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)