*’Mama Bishop’ allegedly refused to pay agents’ commission
Our paper is investigating cases of alleged purchase of property by proxy by the embattled immediate-past governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
As at press time, the former governor who is believed to be an ordained Deacon of United Evangelical Church (established as Qua Iboe Church), was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over alleged diversion of funds during his eight years tenure as governor.
According to very reliable sources, the properties which consist of bare lands and buildings, situate at different locations within and outside Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
Preliminary investigation reveals that some of the properties worth billions of Naira, were discreetly purchased allegedly between 2016 and 2023 during his tenure as governor. According to our source, one of the persons used by the governor (as he then was) for the property acquisition is his blood sister (name withheld).
It was gathered that the said sister who disguises as ‘Bishop’ of her newly established church with Headquarters in Akwa Ibom State was, prior to the emergence of her younger brother as governor, residing in northern part of Cross River State.
“She used to grind cassava in northern Cross River State to support her teaching work”, our source confided in our paper.
Continuing, our source who said he knew the locations of most of the properties revealed: “I’m talking as someone who knows her in and out.
She is the eldest in her family. Her sudden wealth came when her younger brother became governor. She started that church as a cover and the brother (Deacon Udom Emmanuel) used her and the church to secretly buy properties everywhere”.
The very same sister was also alleged to be a surrogate for most failed road construction contracts in the state.
Further investigation reveals that while the sister popularly known as ‘Mama Bishop’ would collect money from Governor Udom (as he then was) to buy the properties, she would also act as a real estate agent in order to cheat the agents from receiving their due commission.
It was further gathered that the aggrieved real estate agents were already in court on a case of defamation of character amongst others, against the former governor’s sister (Mama Bishop) for framing them as dupes.
Our paper learnt that ‘Mama Bishop’ in an attempt to divert attention from her refusal to pay their due agency commission, falsely accused the agents of defrauding her to the tune of One hundred and sixty five million Naira (N165,000,000.00).
The property involved in this saga is a multiple hectares of land spanning two villages in one of the local government areas in Uyo senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State.
The property was purchased using Udom Emmanuel’s sister’s Church as a front.
Local construction workers who were in charge of the building the church from foundation to finishing said the church started few years ago after Udom Emmanuel emerged as governor. Its Headquarters is located in one of the Housing Estates in Uyo. Documents and other evidence which support our source’s testimony confirm that the church has barely up to a hundred members, but boasts of properties worth billions of Naira at different locations.
Efforts to speak with Deacon Udom’s sister as at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful as her known telephone line was not reachable.
More details later
