Friday, 3 June 2016

EFCC: Akpabio begs Etekamba Umoren over N450m election bribe

BREAKINGNEWS!
EFCC: Akpabio begs Etekamba Umoren over N450m election bribe

.....Nkanga re-arrested on Etekamba’s statement

By Ifiok Essien


The detained Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Mr Etekamba Umoren, a central figure in the money-for-votes scandal currently rocking the state government, is under intense pressure by the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to take full responsibility for the N450 million election bribe tsunami.

The EFCC has detained Etekamba in their Port Harcourt facility for his role in the alleged crime. The EFCC invited the SSG for questioning because he was said to have received the money in government house, Uyo, while Gosdwill Akpabio was the governor of the state. The cash was allegedly meant for INEC officials to influence them to falsify the result of the presidential election of last year in favour of the PDP candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Impeccable sources close to the Akpabio family said the former governor practically begged Etekamba on bended knees to tell the EFCC that he collected the money and was ready to make 100% refund to close the case. The SSG is reportedly promised a handsome pay-off if he cooperates. Etekamba was chief of staff to   governor Akpabio when the alleged crime was committed. Conventional wisdom suggests that there is no way N450 million would have been driven in a bullion van into government house in Uyo and handed over to the chief of staff to the governor without his knowledge and approval.
One EFCC source said the anti-crime agency is holding onto Etekamba because he has owned up to receiving the money to save Akpabio as instructed. But a source in Uyo said Etekamba is not cooperating and may have been detained over the alleged forgery of ex-Milad Idongesit Nkanga’s signature.

Nkanga, who was the director-general of the gubernatorial campaign of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom  Emmanuel, was the first person to be arrested about two weeks ago over the bribe scandal. Under interrogation by the EFCC in Port HarcHourt, Nkanga disowned his signature on the receipt for the money. Etekamba was subsequently named by Fidelity Bank, which disbursed the bribe cash, as the government official who received the money in government house, Uyo.

The latest information is that following Etekamba’s statement to the EFCC during an all night grilling, Nkanga has been re-arrested by the EFCC. The ex-Milad reported to the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC this morning and was not released as at press time. Sources in Uyo and Abuja had earlier said before he was asked to return to the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Nkanga was in virtual house arrest, guarded by six operatives of the anti-financial crime agency, while forensic test is being conducted on the signature of the ex-Milad to determine whether it was forged as he alleged.

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