The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have apprehended the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom state and Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio over allegations of gross corruption during his tenure as governor.
Godswill Akpabio
A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and incumbent Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, was on Friday arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Media investigation shows that Mr. Akpabio was taken in by EFCC operatives at about 5.20 pm. He was said to have been accompanied by a few aides and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ricky Tarfa.
An aide to the former governor, who cannot be named because he is not authorised to speak on the matter told reporters that Mr. Akpabio is currently being interrogated by top officials of the EFCC.
An EFCC source confirmed the development. The source said, “He was brought in at about 5.20 pm accompanied by a few aides and Mr. Rickey Tarfa.
“It is not yet known whether he will be allowed to go this night. It depends on how the interrogation goes.”
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, did not answer or return calls seeking comment for this story. The EFCC had begun investigation into alleged theft of N108.1billion of Akwa Ibom funds by the former governor in June.
The action followed a petition forwarded to the commission by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong. Mr. Ekpenyong had on June 8 petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Mr. Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting Akwa Ibom state treasury.
Further investigations showed that several other indigenes of the state who are demanding the investigation of the former governor, have been invited by the EFCC to adopt their petitions.