Strong indications have emerged about how Akwa-Ibom State government has been frustrating the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from investigating the alleged corrupt practices against the former governor of the state Senator Godswill Akpabio.
A top source with the anti- graft agency also confided in the Daily Times how the state government turned down several requests from the commission, requesting for the release of its government officials for interrogation.
According to the source, the Akwa Ibom State government, instead of releasing its officials to be interviewed by the Commission, had through a letter with Ref No: HAG/MISC/VOL.XV1/164, dated June 28, 2017 and signed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, reminded the EFCC of the pendency of a suit No. FHC/UY/CS/20/2017 before the Federal High Court in Uyo.
The Akwa Ibom State government has further challenged the power of the EFCC to investigate the activities of the state, saying that, ”Once an action or dispute is submitted to a court of law, the parties to the suit are bound to show respect to the court.
“There should be no usurpation by any person or authority of the functions and powers of the court to decide the case in accordance with extant laws”.
The EFCC source further revealed how the Secretary to Akwa AIbom State Government had on March 7, 2017, turned down its request to release Mr. Effiong Efiakedoho, permanent secretary, ministry of housing and special duties, to appear before it on March 13, The source also said that the commission had on May 8, 2017 wrote a letter requesting the Accountant General of the State to appear at the Idiagbon House on May 18, alleging that the request was also ignored.
The source said, “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 19th May, 2017 and asked to report to the Commissions zonal office in Port Harcourt in respect to a road construction contract awarded to Nigturks Civil Technologies Limited.
He too failed to honour the invitation. “Also on May 26, 2017, a letter was written to the Secretary to the State Government to release the Accountant General of the state for interrogation on June 5, over the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, this was also ignored”.
The source further revealed that the Commission had for the second time wrote a letter re-inviting the SSG and Efakedoho, PS Housing and Special Duties; and the Accountant General for interrogation but that the three state functionaries failed to honour the invitation.
The source also accused the Akwa Ibom State government of intimidation and employing other means to frustrate the investigation as even officials of the state who were willing to testify against the former governor are said to have chickened out.
He said, “Even one of those who allegedly wrote a petition against the former governor (Akpabio) was quoted by a source to have said he was going to withdraw the petition”.
But sources within the EFCC stated that withdrawal of petition would not affect the investigation, saying that, “This bus has left the station.
There is nothing that anybody can do to stop the investigation at this stage… Whatever challenges we have can only delay the process but the investigation is on course”.
