A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State
and incumbent Senate Minority Leader,
Godswill Akpabio, was on Friday
arrested by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.

PREMIUM TIMES investigation shows
that Mr. Akpabio was taken in by EFCC
operatives at about 5.20 pm.

He was said to have been accompanied a
few aides and a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, SAN, Ricky Tarfa.

An aide to the former governor, who
cannot be named because he is not
authorised to speak on the matter told
PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Akpabio is
currently being interrogated by top
officials of the EFCC.

An EFCC source confirmed the
development.

“He was brought in at about 5.20 pm
accompanied by a few aides and Mr.
Rickey Tarfa,” the source said.

“It is not yet known whether he will be
allowed to go this night. It depends on
how the interrogation goes.”

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson
Uwujaren, did not answer or return calls
seeking comment for this story.
The EFCC had begun investigation into
alleged theft of N108.1billion of Akwa
Ibom funds by the former governor in
June.

The action followed a petition forwarded
to the commission by an Abuja-based
lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong.

Mr. Ekpenyong had on June 8 petitioned
President Muhammadu Buhari and the
EFCC, calling for Mr. Akpabio’s probe
and accusing him of looting Akwa Ibom
state treasury.

Investigations by PREMIUM TIMES
showed that several other indigenes of
the state who are demanding the
investigation of the former governor,
have been invited by the EFCC to adopt
their petitions.

On his part, Mr. Ekpenyong was
summoned on Wednesday, June 17, to
adopt his petition and provide more
details to some of the allegations he
made against Mr. Akpabio.

The former governor, now senator, was
elected in 2007, at a time the nation
enjoyed robust oil revenue.

Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are
Nigeria’s largest oil-producing states.
The two states alternate as first and
second top producers periodically.

The two states receive the highest funds
allocation from the Federation Accounts
Allocation Committee, FAAC, monthly.

Data from the National Bureau of
Statistics and the office of the
Accountant General of the Federation
indicate that under Mr. Akpabio, known
for ostentatious spending, Akwa Ibom
received a staggering N1. 6 trillion from
FAAC between June 2007 and May 2014.

At the time he vacated office on May 29,
the state received more, excluding other
revenues like Ecological Funds,
internally generated revenue etc.

In a new petition to the EFCC dated June
22, and copied to Mr. Buhari and the
Inspector General of Police, Solomon
Arase, Mr. Ekpenyong gave details of
some of Mr. Akpabio’s alleged financial
recklessness.

He alleged that between January and
December 2014, the ex-governor
colluded with two of his top aides to steal
a whopping N108.1 billion from the
state’s treasury.

Mr. Ekpenyong told the EFCC that the
former Government House Permanent
Secretary, Etekamba Umoren, and the
former Accountant General of the state,
Udo Isobara, colluded with Mr. Akpabio
to steal the funds.

“Between January –December 2014, it is
on record that the trio of Godswill
Akpabio, Mr. Etekamba Umoren and Mr.
Udo Isobara, made illegal but substantial
withdrawals of cash from a designated
state government-owned account with
Zenith Bank with account number:
1010375881 amounting to N22.1 billion,”
he stated in the petition.

“It is worthy of note that reasons for
such ungodly cash withdrawals against
financial regulations and due process
laws range between sundry use and
unjustifiable expenditures by Godswill
Akpabio and his numerous surrogates
and proxies.

“For example, a whopping N18 billion
was withdrawn fraudulently from the
state FAAC account with the United Bank
for Africa in trenches of N10 million
and above by Mr. Isobara in a
surreptitious manner to conceal their
dishonest intention.”

For assisting Mr. Akpabio retire billions
of the stolen funds, Mr. Ekpenyong said
Mr. Umoren was rewarded with an
appointment as Government House chief
of staff and now secretary to the state
government under Udom Emmanuel’s
administration.

The legal practitioner went on to state
that over N50 billion of Akwa Ibom
funds were spent by the former
governor during the last general
elections.

During the period under review, he said
Mr. Akpabio also withdrew a whopping
N18 billion from the state coffers under
the guise of special services, reception of
very important guests and sundry items.
“The cumulative aggregate of these
monies stolen by Godswill Akpabio from
the coffers of government as pocket
money is the annual budget of some
states in Nigeria put together,” the
petition reads.

He listed the bouquet of assets acquired
by the former governor through
surrogates to include a multi-billion
naira mansion at Plot 5 Okogosi Spring
Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-
Abuja, a multi-billion naira mansionette
at Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama,
Abuja and another multi-billion naira
mansion at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi,
Lagos.

Others include a multi-billion naira
mansionette at Plot 23 Olusegun Aina
Street, Parkview, Lagos and a multi-
billion naira 25 storey building at Akin
Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“As earlier promised, more details of
assets and graft-related funds illegally
and fraudulently siphoned from Akwa
Ibom State treasury and laundered to
foreign destinations are in the offing. As
usual, we will do the needful.

An EFCC source said senior officials of
the commission held discussions with
Mr. Ekpenyong on the petition on
Tuesday.

“He also adopted the petition he
forwarded to the commission and
provided additional details about the
alleged stealing of funds by the former
governor,” the source said.

The source noted that many of those who
have sent petitions to the commission
against the former governor, now
senator, have already been invited to
adopt their document.

He confirmed that very soon the
commission would invite the former
governor for questioning.

Allegations, complete falsehood
Mr. Akpabio could not be reached for
this story. Messrs Umoren and Isobara
could not also be reached for comments.
But the commissioner of information
during the administration of Mr.
Akpabio, Aniekan Umana, described the
contents of the petition by Mr.
Ekpenyong as falsehood taken too far.
He said the petition betrayed a lack of
understanding of the workings of
government.

“Every sum withdrawn from a
government account is tied to a subhead
and there must be a budgetary
provision. To attribute fraud to
withdrawals which had the full sanction
of Government and was accommodated
in the budget is strange, mischievous
and untenable. More so, when one
understands that there are checks and
balances which guide all aspects of
government financial administration,”
he said.

He also said the allegation that the State
Government spent N50 billion on the
March General Elections falls flat on its
face based on his explanations of the
workings of government as regards
financial transactions.

“There was no such provision in the
budget of this year and such an amount
could not have been paid as an extra-
budgetary expenditure and yet salaries
and other commitments were met. We
challenge the petitioners to provide
proof to support this wild allegation.
Who was it paid to? How was it paid?
Where was it paid? And when was it
paid?

“Senator Akpabio does not own a 25-
storey building in Victoria Island or in
any part of the world, as alleged by the
petitioner. It is also a patent falsehood
that the house at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi
belongs to Senator Akpabio.

It is a rented building which ownership
can be verified from Lagos State Lands
Registry.

“Senator Akpabio does not own the
properties mentioned in the petition to
belong to him. You can verify the
ownership of the properties (5 Okokosi
Close, Maitama and Plot 28 Colorado
Close, Maitama) from the land registry
in Abuja,” he said.

He also denied the state received over
N2 trillion as oil allocation.

“Please do note that the idea that the
Akwa Ibom State Government received
over N2.5 trillion in the eight years of
the Akpabio administration is an
outrageous lie. What this suggests is that
the State Government received an
average of N26 billion monthly for the
period. What a lie! From published
accounts of disbursement from the
Federation Accounts, Akwa Ibom State
never received up to N26 billion in any
month throughout the period.
Note that in some months like the April
and May, 2015, Akwa Ibom State
received about N8 billion.

source: www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/191620-efcc-arrests-former-akwa-ibom-governor-godswill-akpabio.html

Wow... EFCC have really grown some balls! Even if he didn't do it, I like the fact that he's been grilled. Wailers will call it "witch-hunting"

When are they going to arrest Amaechi and Fashola? Upon all the plethora of petitions and evidences against the APC stalwarts, nothing has been done by the so called anti-graft or is it now witch-hunting body called EFCC. If the idea is to kill or silence the opposition, I bet you, it wouldn't fly

shocked... wow

Drama

hmm...

This selective corruption fight is corruption on its own

İnvited or arrested
Uncommon criminal

Our oyel money

hmmmmmmm, season film, watch out.

How about arresting Amaechi for all the petitions against him?.

How about arresting Fashola for the petitions forwarded against him?.

Any attempt to ridicule Goodswill by this bastard of Daura,will hit the brick.

Selective justice

So after all Akpabio Clowning at the Screening, them still carry am....No time,
108 billion can bring the Deep seaport in Akwa Ibom to near completion!!!

But what if he says he did not sign any cheque just like FASHOLE


With Ricky Tarfa by his side, EFCC don lose this one........?

Gaddemit! E be like say Ali baba and him 40 goons go dey learn for where this "Akpabio" dey oh? We go soon hear say na" wizard hunting"! Bloody Looter Vandross!

Efcc/ICPC are proactive these days.

gan gan


hipocrisy is when u arrest Akpabio for fraud but appoint Amaechi as minister!

We are just watching!

EffCC don come with shakara again oh

Until Amechi and fashola are arrested....... Its called witch hunting

warrior01:
When are they going to arrest Amaechi and Fashola? Upon all the plethora of petitions and evidences against the APC stalwarts, nothing has been done by the so called anti-graft or is it now witch-hunting body called EFCC. If the idea is to kill or silence the opposition, I bet you, it wouldn't fly

Did you write one?

And Amaechi, Fashola and other APC members are running around free? Nigeria will even breakup sooner than we expected.

IT IS OFFICIAL: Buhari and APC re both clowns

Quote me anywhere

One is nominated for Ministerial post while d other is being harassed by thug assss datura EFCC/ Daura secret service


We will never 4 get

100% wailer

Vivalavida99:
Selective justice

It will go round in due course. Let's support the investigation and prosecution of those already arrested for corruptly enriching themselves at the expense of the masses. What we should do as citizens is to call for fair trial and justice to be done. Taking sides with politicians who don't care about the masses is simply ridiculous.

Watching.......

And then, it began

One by one dey don dey go

I beggi.Make una no vex for this govt oooo.Dem just dey arrest those babas in lootingology comparing to those pikin wey dey in APC in such profession.

warrior01:
When are they going to arrest Amaechi and Fashola? Upon all the plethora of petitions and evidences against the APC stalwarts, nothing has been done by the so called anti-graft or is it now witch-hunting body called EFCC. If the idea is to kill or silence the opposition, I bet you, it wouldn't fly

I knew Amechi's name will enter somehow. What is wrong with you people? . Are you incapable of reason?

phemmyutd:

Did you write one?

I did and you?

**yawns** when amaechi is a free man!

Akpabio? I dey laugh!

Hmmm

All this wailers go start crying now I no knw why I go dey cry when I no get 1kobo from the looted money, believe me if I benefit from the looted funds I would be able to support blindly.