*may seize bank traced to the former Akwa Ibom gov
…as team begins search in Uyo, other cities
By Ime Silas
A team of investigators have begun search for properties alleged to have been acquired by the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel from proceeds of funds suspected to have been diverted during his eight years tenure.
Recall that an anti-graft group known as National Action against Corruption and Trafficking, NACAT, had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking investigation and prosecution of the immediate-past governor for allegedly diverting public funds to the tune of over Seven Hundred Billion Naira (N700bn).
Consequent upon the petition, the EFCC on Tuesday, March 4, reportedly detained Ex-gov Udom for questioning. The anti-graft agency has yet to issue a statement on the former governor’s arrest.
But, upon enquiry, our paper gathered that as at afternoon hours of Friday, former Governor Udom was still writing his statement at the Abuja Headquarters of the EFCC.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source who is privy to the operation hinted that the team had the mandate to beam its searchlight beyond properties acquired in Uyo, to other cities, even outside Nigeria.
According to our source “The amount of money alleged to have been stolen by the former governor during his tenure is so huge and most parts of it have been traced to properties in different cities even beyond Nigeria.
“The EFCC of today is quiet different and the specific mandate is to ensure that all monies stolen are recovered. Some of these persons thought that in carrying out such investigation, emphases would be on bank accounts, so they secretly bought properties from these stolen funds.
Some even used the names of their relatives as fronts, some used companies, some bought in the names of churches, organizations, and so forth. And in this case for instance, the stolen funds have been traced to a certain Bank and properties which are being investigated”
Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, a former banker, became governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015 after serving under then Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio (now Senate President) as Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He succeeded Akpabio and governed the oil-rich state till 2023.
