Akpabio Replies Group Over Clamour For Fresh Probe

The Network Against Corruption And Trafficking has again, asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC), to investigate and probe some of the financial transactions done by the Senator Godswill Akpabio while he was the governor of Akwa Ibom State.

This former governor has been under probe by the antigraft agency, EFCC, who quizzed him after leaving office as governor.

In a petition sent to the EFCC, the group alleged that fresh allegations have emerged of some suspicious financial dealings of Akpabio and called for more probe.

Meanwhile, the chief press secretary to Akpabio, Jackson Udom said: “investigation is no conviction. Every public officer could be investigated after leaving office and that is the right thing to do. Senator Akpabio left office eight years ago after a meritorious service to Akwa Ibom State and his legacies and performance as the state governor from 2007-2015, are still visible in all nook and crannies of the state.”

One of the alleged cases involved the award of contract to shell companies (that are non existent).

The group alleged that the Blue Current Nig Enterprise received N500,3990,900 from the office of the secretary to the state govt account from the UBA account number 1015319792 and checks on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website showed that the companies are not registered nor do they exist on other platforms that show the existence of companies hence ineligible to be awarded contracts.

Also, Wallnet Business Service ltd received a total of N1,197,195,422 from the Akwa Ibom State Government account number 0009987286 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc.

The sum was paid in a single day dated September 1, 2011 in one tranche.

The group alleged that its findings showed that the company which was floated in July 2007 barely two months after the swearing in of Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

The group called for investigation into why a company which had only being in existence for barely three years without any proven track record of technical knowhow was paid a whopping N1.2billion without specification of the purpose of the payment contrary to Part IV Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 which requires that companies eligible for contract award should possess the necessary professional and technical qualifications, financial capability, equipment and other relevant infrastructure etc’.

Also, the group alleged that the sum of N12,843,645,925 was paid from the Government House Uyo account from the Zenith bank account number 1010375881 to an individual, who withdrew N10,000,000 in 14 trenches in a day (June 1, 2011) totaling N140,000,000.

Also, on August 3, 2011; The sum of N10,000,000 was withdrew in 24 trenced in a single day totaling N240,000,000.

The group alleged that these and other accusations stated in the petition are enormous to over look and called for thorough investigation into them.