A group of concerned Nigerians under the umbrella of Civil
Society Groups for Accountability and Probity have accused the Federal
Government of shielding a former Governor of Akwa Ibom state and
chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Godswill
Akpabio.
The group also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) to synergize with the Code of Conduct Bureau and the
Code of Conduct Tribunal to ensure Akpabio is brought to book.
Secretary-General
of the group, Jonathan Ogwuche, who spoke on Monday in Abuja while
making a submission to the EFCC, explained that the group is committed
to the fight against corruption and strengthening of institutions, which
the present administration and the EFCC have led with unprecedented
milestones achieved already.
He, therefore, called on the Federal
Government to commence actions and activities that would lead to the
prosecution of Akpabio.
He noted that for such fight to be
sustained, there should be no sacred cows, stressing that the Senator
who has gotten his hands contaminated with proceeds of corruption and
abuse of public also must also be made to face the consequence of their
actions.
The group recalled that in October 2015, the commission
quizzed Senator Godswill Akpabio over allegations of fraud to the tune
of N108.1bn following a petition by one Leo Ekpenyong and is still
awaiting the outcome of that investigation as unfortunately nothing has
been heard to that effect while the suspect moves around freely.
“Consequently,
sequel to our independent investigation, we want to bring the following
crucial findings to the notice of your esteemed Office for further
investigation and prosecution.
“In 2007 Senator Akpabio claimed to have eight (
buildings, while in 2011 he declared 10 (ten) buildings.
“Curiously however and of worrisome note, in 2016 following an investigative report by an online media, it was alleged that he was among those with properties in Dubai ( annexure 1)”, it stressed.
According
to the group, contrary to claims by Sen. Akpabio, “the following
outlandish properties located at the underlisted addresses could also be
traced to him as follows: Plot 5 Ikogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala
Crescent, Maitama-Abuja; Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama; 22 Probyn
Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and Plot 23 Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos”.
The
rest of their allegations made available to newsmen reads: “Clearly,
these properties have been linked to the Senator. It has become
pertinent that we bring to your notice the salient fact that these
properties are conspicuously missing in the asset declaration forms of
Senator Akpabio (see annexure 2)
“With the exception of a Bedford
armour Bus which he claimed to be a gift, cars declared in 2007 were
copied and pasted in 2011. This doesn’t represent the reality on the
ground as he is known to move about in a fleet of cars.
“His
child, Iniabasi who is said to have a property (duplex) in Abuja (in
2007 declaration) (at Games village) acquired on 1-1-2005 worth a value
of N16.9m has an annual income of just N350,000, while in
2011declaration, the value remains unchanged.
“The source of the
house is questionable. We can incontrovertibly submit that Senator
Akpabio freely dished out the finances of Akwa Ibom State to his
children, friends and other family members while corruptly enriching
himself with same at the detriment of the State.
“We thus humbly
request that the Chairman of EFCC use his esteemed office and
investigative arsenal to review all prevailing and emerging findings on
the Senator to unravel allegations of fraud against him.
“This
investigation has become expedient in order to disabuse the minds of
Nigerians with the notion and perception that the anti-corruption war
has some sacred cows. If the Chief Justice of Nigeria can be dragged
before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, we see no reason why Sen. Godswill
Akpabio is being shielded from prosecution.
“Therefore, in the
spirit of equality before the law, the EFCC is hereby called upon to
synergize with the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct
Tribunal to ensure Akpabio is brought to book”.
Source:- Tribuneonlineng
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