EFCC Begins Fresh Probe of Akpabio’s N1.4b Bank Gift

Related stories

APC Accuses Atiku Of Triggering PDP’s Crisis By Ignoring Party’s Zoning Arrangement

By Kolawole Ojebisi The National Publicity Secretary of the All...

Nwoko To Oborevwori: Embrace New Politics, Shun Deals That Led To Decline Of Delta PDP

By Kolawole Ojebisi The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District,...

Why Tinubu Approved Aso Rock’s Switch From National Grid To Solar, FG Explains

By Abiola Olawale The Federal Government has offered reasons for...

“I’m Honoured” Says Dangote After Appointment To World Bank Investment Lab

By Kolawole Ojebisi The President and Chief Executive of the...

Ramaphosa, Trump Meet Soon Over Strained South Africa-US Relations After Ambassador Rasool’s Expulsion

By Abiola Olawale South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun a fresh probe of a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, over allegations that he gave a gift of N1.4bn to a bank for unknown reasons.

The EFCC, it was learnt, had written to the bank to explain why the governor allegedly gave it such a gift.

However, it was learnt that the Akwa Ibom State Government had dragged the commission before the court, challenging its right to investigate state affairs.

A detective at the commission said, “Among several allegations that are already in the public domain, the commission has made some progress in investigating the circumstances in which Apkabio, in 2013, paid N566, 883,728.66; N441,808,081.90; and N392, 631,943.37 as gifts to a new generation bank.”

It was learnt that the state government had ignored seven requests from the EFCC, asking for the release of officials of the government for interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of Akpabio, who is now the Senate Minority Leader.

The source added, “On March 7, 2017, the commission wrote to the Secretary to the State Government, asking for the release of Mr. Effiong Efiakedoho, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Special Duties, to appear before the EFCC on March 13.

“He was summoned specifically in respect of matters relating to a hotel, Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Raffia City Plaza, A 342 Highway. There was no response.

“On May 8, 2017, a letter, requesting the Accountant General of the state to appear at the EFCC on May 18, was also ignored.

“The Accountant General was specifically summoned in respect of an aspect of the investigation relating to a company, Sindeng Nigeria Limited.

“The Commissioner for Works was also invited through a letter of May 19, 2017 and asked to report to the commission’s zonal office in Port Harcourt with respect to a road construction contract awarded to Nigturks Civil Technologies Limited. He too failed to honour the invitation.

“A May 26, 2017 letter to the Secretary to the State Government to release the Accountant General of the state for interrogation on June 5, on the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, was also ignored.”

It was learnt that the EFCC, in two separate letters dated June 7, 2017, invited all the aforementioned persons but they failed to show up.

The source told our correspondent that instead of releasing its officials, the Akwa Ibom State Government, through a letter, referenced HAG/MISC/VOL.XV1/164, dated June 28, 2017 and signed by the Attorney General, Uwemedimo Nwoko, stated that it was challenging the powers of the EFCC to investigate states.

Nwoko, therefore, asked the commission to wait till all legal hurdles were crossed before taking action.

A detective said if the matter was allowed to drag, it could affect the case.

It was learnt that banks had also failed to provide documents to the EFCC on transactions linked to Akpabio, who has been accused of N108bn fraud during his tenure between 2007 and 2015.

When contacted, Akpabio’s media aide, Mr. Anietie Ekong, said his boss would not want to take issue with anybody since the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State had clarified the issue.

“We are aware of the issue because someone else called earlier to confirm the allegation. The Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State has responded to the matter and we are not ready to take issue with anybody,” he said.

Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

Latest News
APC Accuses Atiku Of Triggering PDP's Crisis By Ignoring Party's Zoning ArrangementNwoko To Oborevwori: Embrace New Politics, Shun Deals That Led To Decline Of Delta PDPWhy Tinubu Approved Aso Rock's Switch From National Grid To Solar, FG Explains"I'm Honoured" Says Dangote After Appointment To World Bank Investment LabRamaphosa, Trump Meet Soon Over Strained South Africa-US Relations After Ambassador Rasool's ExpulsionEminent Scholar- Diplomat, Ibrahim Gambari Showers Accolades On Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on His 85th BirthdayRelief As NiMet Workers Call Off Strike After FG’s Brokered Truce'No Comment'...Reps Decline Response As Ibas Shuns Panel On Rivers Emergency Rule AgainPoverty Will Increase In Nigeria By 3.6% Over Next Five Years -- World BankAlleged N1.3trn Fraud: Court Authorizes EFCC to Arrest Six CBEX PromotersDaddy Showkey Slams Niger Governor Over Arrest Order Against People With DreadlocksWhy I'll Never Join Wike, Others To Insult Odili -- AmaechiOkowa, Oborevwori's Defection: Atiku's Future Bleak As Allies Give 'Leprous' Coalition Wide Berth -- OnanugaNNPCL Set for Forensic Audit, Says Minister EdunPope Francis's Doctor Provides Fresh Update on the Pontiff's Death: “He Died Without Suffering”
X whatsapp