Group wants EFCC to investigate ex-Governor over alleged N1.5 trillion fraud

Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Initiative (NACAT) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, over alleged misappropriation of state funds.

The group, which made the call in a petition to the EFCC against the former governor on Wednesday in Abuja, accused him of diverting over N1.5 trillion state funds.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition was signed by its Executive Director, Investigation, Fejiro Tega; Operation Manager, Stanley Ugabe; and Michael Ekpo; with Victor Thompson for Akwa Ibomites.

“As a leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, we will be failing in our duties and responsibilities if we turn a blind eye to the wanton corruption and embezzlement of public funds orchestrated by former Gov. Udom Emmanuel.

“We have painstakingly investigated and audited many of the financial records of the state available to us and detailed our findings here as part of our petition.

“The diversion of funds and primitive massive acquisition of properties by Udom and his family members, has left the residents and indigenes of the state wondering why the EFCC has not invited him for questioning and prosecution,” the group wrote.

NACAT noted that, in spite of the over N3 trillion that came into the Akwa Ibom State coffers under the eight years tenure of Udom, a staggering sum of N700 billion could not be accounted for.

“The former governor yet left a debt profile of over N500 billion and unpaid ongoing projects worth over N300 billion, with abandoned projects littered all over the state,” it stated.

NACAT said that the former governor, through his cronies, allegedly awarded contracts to companies owned by his allies through which funds were siphoned from the state’s coffers.

It alleged that Emmanuel diverted the state’s funds through security votes, which were never given to the security agents that it was meant for.

According to the group, over N4.5 billion was withdrawn and claimed to be given to security agencies in a space of six months, while over N10 billion was spent in 2018 alone, as security votes.

The anti-corruption organisation accused the former governor of spending over N100 billion to build 31 industries that never saw the light of the day.

“The 31 industries, which gulped over N100 billion have not been built till now beyond the four he did that died after their commissioning.

“The only completed and standard projects he completed are his houses in Ikoyi, worth over N3 billion, as well as his new house undergoing construction that is built entirely with concrete and no blocks.

“Greenwell Technologies Limited which was claimed to be a PPP actually had 100 per cent ownership by Akwa Ibom with N650 million paid by Udom in 2016 to kickstart the fertilizer company,” it further alleged.

NACAT also claimed that the state government was paying the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) N1.5 billion yearly, ostensibly for supply of raw materials.

“Udom diverted all the billions made by the fertilizer company to a shell company in the U.S., named Greenwell Technologies LLC.

“He claimed that they were to supply raw materials, whereas it was ONSA that supplied raw materials and were already paid for.

“We also have cause to believe that Udom is a major shareholder of Globus Bank,” it further alleged.

“Majority of the state government’s accounts are now with Globus Bank right from when it was floated under his tenure in Akwa Ibom State and till now, the group added.

It also claimed that New Dawn Microfinance Bank in Uyo is owned by the former governor’s allies.

NACAT also alleged that the former governor used people as fronts to perpetrate such, adding that the microfinance bank was a money laundering bank used to warehouse money for him.

It said that the former governor also used his wife to buy a property worth 580,000 dollars in the U.S. located at 3939 Manor House, Drive, Charlotte, NC 28270.

Speaking with newsmen earlier, Mr Light Shedrack, Director of Compliance NACAT, said the group decided to officially send a petition to the EFCC chairman and would be ready to stand as witness in due course if called upon.

When contacted, the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the petition was submitted to the commission by the group on Wednesday.

However, Mr Stephen Abia, the media aide to the former governor, dismissed the allegation, describing it as baseless.

He said the petition was the handiwork of the enemies of the former governor, stressing that records were on ground to proof the achievements of his boss during his tenure.

Abia, who emphasised that the allegation did not hold water, said his principal ruled the state with utmost transparency and observed due process in all his dealings as governor.

According to him, most of the allegations were frivolous and unfounded.

The media aide, while describing the petition as a “trash, which should not be reckoned with”, said those who wrote it had no good record, and were known for their notorious activities.(NAN)