The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has come under fire from the Arewa Youths Forum (AYF) over remarks he made recently about Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Remember that on Sunday, during a speech at a church service, Akpabio said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was unsure of what offense to bring charges against Emefiele in court. The former governor of the CBN was engaged in numerous fraudulent transactions, he continued.
The forum responded by characterizing Akpabio’s remarks as blatant attempts to deflect attention from his case before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a statement signed by its Acting National Secretary, Isa Dangaziya, on Monday.
The forum added that in more civilized societies, individuals such as the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, who are purportedly facing corruption charges, need to be imprisoned or concealed to avoid public disgrace.
The Arewa Youths questioned why individuals such as Akpabio, who during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was accused of plundering the common patrimony of Akwa Ibom and even the nation, could then turn around and point the finger at others for the country’s misfortune.
The statement reads: “We received with rude shock, the comments attributed to Akpabio attributing the current economic hardship and hunger in Nigeria to the actions and policies implemented during Emefiele’s tenure at the apex bank when in essence, he is one of those who milked and is still milking Nigeria dry and they are walking freely despite humongous corruption allegations.
“To our utter dismay and surprise, the Senate President was reportedly spewing these lies in an update of a church programme posted by Channels Television on its X handle on Sunday – in the sight of God to show how people like him have sold their conscience.
“Just remind Nigerians, as recent as April last year, it was widely reported in the media that the EFCC invited Akpabio, for interrogation over an investigation concerning corruption allegations against him.
“There were allegations of an N40 billion fraud perpetrated in the Niger Delta Development Commission, a parastatal under the ministry superintended by Akpabio for three years.
“Also, there were allegations of over N86 billion contract scams involving him and a former Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, which the EFCC had been investigating.
“The anti-graft agency had in the past arrested Akpabio over the alleged theft of N108.1 billion of Akwa Ibom funds.
“The EFCC had earlier invited Akpabio to appear for questioning on March 29, 2023 but his lawyer, Umeh Kalu, SAN, in a letter to the anti-graft agency alleged that his client was suffering from pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia.
“Looking at the above, any discerning mind would not hesitate to conclude that Akpabio’s outing yesterday was nothing by diversionary tactics, typical of the pot calling the kettle black!”
