Making Akpabio Senate President will amount to rewarding corruption, CSO says

A civil society organisation, Network Against Corruption And Trafficking {NACAT} has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission {EFCC}to investigate Senator Godswill Akpabio over allegations of financial misconduct.

The group, which made the call at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, called for an investigation into Senator Godswill Akpabio’s alleged financial misconduct.

The Executive Director of Legal at NACAT, Mr. Justice Ojefia, while referring to an audit report of Akwa Ibom State treasury between 2011 and 2015, accused Akpabio of financial misconduct amounting to N1 trillion naira during his tenure as governor.

According to Ojefia, the financial misconduct included circumventing procurement processes, suspicious payments, possible money laundering, and awarding contracts to non-existent shell companies.

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He said: “These financial manipulations have cost the good people of Akwa-Ibom State, money amounting to over N700 billion, under the watch of Akpabio.

“To make Akpabio a Senate President is a reward for monumental corruption orchestrated in Akwa Ibom and Ministry of Niger Delta and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“Akpabio as governor looted over N1 trillion of Akwa Ibom State treasury and over N200 billion NDDC funds as a minister.

“How will Akpabio be allowed to preside over the same Senate when he accused the entire Senators as being behind the corruption in NDDC during the NDDC probe?”

Ojefia also noted that giving Akpabio the Senate President mandate is to whittle down the fight against corruption.

“He will enact laws that will weaken the EFCC and ICPC since he has cases with them,’’ Ojefia said.