…Probes Alleged N700bn Fraud
By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, operatives have arrested and detained a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, over an alleged N700 billion fraud.
Emmanuel, was detained after honouring the EFCC’s invitation to answer allegations of money laundering, diversion of funds, and stealing.
It was gathered that he arrived at the commissions office around 12:30 p.m. and was arrested short.
Media reports quoted a reliable source in the commission as saying that “We have arrested the former governor of Akwa Ibom over an alleged N700 billion fraud.
“A civil society organisation called the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking petitioned the EFCC, prompting our investigation”, the source was quoted to have said.
He added, “The petitioner alleged that Emmanuel received N3 trillion from the Federation Account over eight years but left behind a debt profile of N500 billion and unpaid ongoing projects worth N300 billion. He was also alleged to be unable to account for N700 billion.
The source further said that investigations uncovered the withdrawal of N31 billion in cash from a single account named “Office of the Governor”.
Besides, “Our investigations have uncovered the withdrawal of N31bn in cash in one single account. The name of the account is Office of the Governor. The money was withdrawn in cash progressively between 2019 and 2023”.
It would be recalled that Emmanuel, served as Akwa Ibom State Governor from 2015 to 2023.
As at press time the EFCC had not made any official statement on the arrest, however, AljazirahNigeria authoritatively confirmed that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom slept in the anti-graft Agency’s special designed guest room under investigation.
