The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission re-invites Nigeria’s minister, Godswill Akpabio, over abuse of office and misappropriation of funds after he claimed through his lawyer that the state of his health would not allow him to attend initial questioning.
The EFCC invited Akpabio for questioning on March 29, but his lawyer said he was ill with pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia and had arranged medical appointments abroad. He requested the EFCC reschedule the questioning due to his client’s health condition. His client is undergoing treatment for pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia and has been advised to seek medical attention abroad. He requested that the EFCC reschedule his client’s appointment to a later date.
The request was granted, and after some months, the EFCC reissued another letter that was sent for Akpabio to visit the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on May 9, 2023. On a copy of the letter were Akpabio’s lawyers, Seasons Law Firm, who received the letter.
In 2021, the senator-elect was detained for attempting to bribe the EFCC Chairman with $350,000. He did so because of the corruption allegations against him from his time as governor of Akwa Ibom State. Akpabio met with Bawa at the EFCC office, as arranged by the Attorney General of the Federation, Malami. He came with five others. The Attorney General of the Federation arranged a recent meeting for the minister despite the bribery issue with Malami. He was detained with his six aides after being ushered in to see the EFCC chairman at 1 p.m. while carrying the money. Akpabio headed the ministry for three years. In 2020, the Senate and House of Representatives launched an investigation into the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC regarding their alleged N40 billion financial recklessness in the past three months. The former acting managing director of NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, was also accused of being involved in an N86 billion contract scam.
This is coming after the minister Akpabio visited the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and reports gathered by Foxiz News revealed that the minister is soliciting to become the senate president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, other contenders for the Senate presidential seat are Jibrin Barau and Orji Uzor Kalu.
