Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State has attracted the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an allegation that he gifted a bank N1.4 billion for unknown reasons.
The
EFCC is said to have written to the unnamed bank to explain why it got
the gift from Akpabio, who is the incumbent minority leader of the
Senate.
But, the Akwa Ibom State government has jumped to Akpabio
defence and has filed a case in court challenging the right of the EFCC
to probe the state’s affairs,
the Punch reports.
“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,”
According to
the newspaper, 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.
“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,” the source continued.
“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,” the source added.
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. Instead of releasing
the officials, the 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.