Godswill Akpabio’s Cesspit of Corruption
By Martins Adedeji
There is no more dangerous menace to corruption than a government of incompetent, corrupt or vile men. Permit me to use this as an introductory statement to unveil some of the most worrisome detailed reports, allegations and averments of corruptions against former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and present Minister of Niger Delta, who is also a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
From every point of view, I’ll be very correct to assert that Sen. Godswill Akpabio is very much familiar with Nigerian politics as he has been at the helm of politics for not less than 16 years.
Recently, Ex-Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Joy Nunieh, had come out publicly to accuse and inculpate Sen. Godswill Akpabio of corruption, sexual harassment and forcing her to take oath.
There are high odds speculations that the monstrous sleaze being revealed in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is just a tip of the iceberg on the stinking corruption and criminal rachmanism.
Joy Nunieh did not only accuse Akpabio of massive stealing, manipulation of budget processes, victimization and implication of innocent Nigerians but also fetish practices. She also openly claimed that she is the only woman to have slapped Akpabio for trying to sexually assault her in his guest house at Apo (maybe she will receive an award for it. laughable).
In a sane state, an allegation of sexual assault is not just a mere dehumanization but a criminal offence against the state.
Although Akpabio has come out to debunk the allegations of Joy Nunieh against him but time will tell who is actually saying the truth.
It will be recalled that during one of the public exposure of Akpabio’s doings by Joy Nunieh, loyalists of Akpabio were seen disrupting and trying to stop the Ex-Managing Director of NDDC from addressing the Press.
This is not the first time Akpabio will be linked to corruption charges. In fact Akpabio is palsy-walsy to corruption allegations and charges.
During his time as governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio was accused of embezzling public funds of the oil-rich state. Punch reported that in March 2013, he was accused of giving N1million each to six chairmen of the Peoples’ Democratic Party from the South-South geopolitical zone that had converged in Port Harcourt for a party reconciliation session, telling them to use the money to “buy Mr Biggs.”
It was also alleged that between January and December 2014, the trio of Godswill Akpabio, a former aide to the Governor and another associate made illegal but substantial withdrawals of cash from a designated state government-owned account of Zenith Bank account number 101037588, amounting to N22.1bn.
It will shock you to know that Akpabio came under investigation in late 2015 following accusations that he diverted over N100bn from the oil-rich state between 2007 and 2015, an allegation which he has denied.
One Abuja based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong petitioned EFCC and indicated that between January and December, 2014, the ex-governor colluded with two aides and diverted a whooping sum of N108.1 billion from the state treasury. He went ahead to list not less than three multi billion naira mansions acquired by the former Governor in Lagos and Abuja.
While he was Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio commissioned fly over bridges and stadium which were built with exaggerated funds from the state treasury.
According to Inihebe Effiong “What can be more entertaining than seeing known members and supporters of the PDP, especially those from Akwa Ibom State, deriding and attacking Senator Godswill Akpabio over corruption in the NDDC?” The same party who painted Akpabio as an uncommon transformer just before his defection to the APC.
Perhaps his defection to the glorified all saint ruling party is to save him from the many scurrilous and pejorative allegations hanging upon his neck. Even if Akpabio is protected by his new all saint political party, he has already been brought into disrepute by his accusers.
The tragedy that happened to Akwa Ibom State for 8 years has now been extended to the NDDC. The most recent allegations of which is Kolawole Johnson who came smoking with the (forensic audit report) on how Akpabio and Cairo Ojougboh IMC looted over N80bn, including monies meant for NDDC Scholars.
According to Kolawole, an engineering company got media consultancy on awareness campaign against COVID for N749 million, 15% mobilization paid after tax was 98.35m. Company received it 22/4.
His accusers like the Pharisees have seen no good in him, Akpabio May not just be financial culpable of corruption, he may be guilty of nepotism, he has tried to Lord it over everybody including the house committee on NDDC. He believed he could determine the appointments of top officials within the NDDC with no respect to Federal Character.
Perhaps this reasons are why he was not re-elected back to the senate by his own people, his kinsmen.
Permit me to drop my pen with this, Akpabio was Governor for eight years, then a Senator and now a Minister, yet he’s still swimming in allegations of corruption. Out of every rumour, the odds of truth lies there.
