Man-hunt for Akpabio: Why Buhari wants him caged
. Akpabio’s EFCC troubles
.Why Udom will not give him away
Revelations have emerged why Aso Rock, the nation’s seat of power wants Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio cut completely to size.
The sinister plot NEWS LINK learnt is also targeted at the Akwa Ibom State Government led by Governor Udom Emmanuel.
According to impeccable source, the reason for the onslaught on the Senate Minority Leader is not unconnected with his role as a leading leader in the PDP, the opposing party primed to wrestle power from the APC in 2019. It is learnt that the APC has vowed to make life increasingly uncomfortable for frontline opposition elements in a bid to stifle their influence and clout in the run-in to the much anticipated poll in 2019.
NEWS LINK also learnt that the Akwa Ibom State Government is also marked for persecution for their role in continually shielding Akpabio from harassment by the EFCC.
Also, according to source, the insatiable desire of the APC to add Akwa Ibom to their list of controlled states has also resulted in desperate measures aimed at whisking away the state from the grasp of the PDP in 2019.
Their plans against the PDP in Akwa Ibom in 2019 are shrouded around the continued attempt to pitch the massively-funded NDDC against the AKSG. Part of the agenda has been to discredit the Udom Emmanuel led administration in Akwa Ibom and project the NDDC led by Nsima Ekere as the state’s saving grace. However, the above average rating of Governor Udom Emmanuel has greatly stifled this plan.
Last week, reports had emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun a fresh probe of a Senator 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.
