2019: Akwa Ibom Govt accuses EFCC of working for APC

The Akwa Ibom State Government on Sunday chided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a report on Sunday, November 11, 2018 alleging an EFCC probe of the State Government over withdrawal of N6.5 billion from the state account.

Charles Udoh, Commissioner of Information and Strategy, in a statement on Sunday contended that EFCC would be acting out of law in the said probe, remarking that only the State House of Assembly or the Auditor-General of the State has the legal authority to conduct such investigation.

The Commissioner, accordingly, declared, “We wish to state emphatically as follows; that:
– this is a malicious allegation and a desperate face saving effort by the EFCC to justify the several illegalities it has allowed itself to be used by the opposition to perpetrate against the Akwa Ibom State Government which have attracted widespread condemnation within and outside the country.
– For avoidance of doubt, the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria authorizes only the State House of Assembly and the State Auditor-General to pry into the financial dealings of a state government
– For the records, the current administration has made Akwa Ibom State one of the few states; if not the only state, that publishes its annual audited financial statements.

This underscores the state government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity in governance. Copies of the state’s annual audited financial statements are available in the public domain.
– It is ludicrous that the EFCC has allowed itself to degenerate into a tool of lopsided political mudsling and witch-hunting used by the opposition in the state to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Akwa Ibom State Government.
– This story was earlier published in the same newspaper by the same author on August 12, 2018, and since it did not have the intended effects, EFCC has sadly condescended to regurgitating the story in a flagrant act of impunity against existing laws of Nigeria.
– The Akwa Ibom State Government will do all within its lawful limits to protect the integrity of governance in the state.
– Recall that the Akwa Ibom State Government had served notices of contempt to the EFCC and would not be dragged into a public discourse on a matter that is patently subjudice.
– This matter is before the Federal High Court Uyo.