Emeka Kalu calls for probe of Akpabio, Akwa over N22billion NDDC funds, N100m bribe

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engineer Emeka Kalu has called for a thorough investigation of alleged squandering of a whopping N22 billion by Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, and the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Effiong Okon Akwa.

Kalu also expressed support for the ongoing investigation of allegation of attempting to bribe some officials of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB by Akpabio.

Kalu in a statement he signed himself, and made available to Jungle Journalist Media Limited via electronic mail, said that the current corruption charges against Akpabio are one too many, and must not be ignored.

Kalu who sent the mail from the United States of America, warned that the Minister and the Sole Administrator of NDDC, Akwa must not be allowed to get away with the alleged massive fraud which he said has further impoverished people of the Niger Delta.

Hear him: “We are appalled at the high level of corruption cases against Misters Akpabio and Akwa, who heads the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and the NDDC. What’s really tragic in the whole matter is that the funds being squandered have been allocated for the upliftment of the people of Niger Delta.

“But these two men sit on our money and dare us. I hereby call for a thorough investigation of these men, whom it has become obvious are far from being honest. Pregnancy cannot be hidden forever, and anyone whose hands are not clean should be tried and jailed for corruption.

“I hereby call on the present administration not to relent in its efforts to curb corrupt practices in this country, and to ensure that justice is served against those who have committed fraud on behalf of the people of the Niger Delta, as well As Nigerians across the gkobe”, he started in parts.

Recall that a Federal Commissioner in CCB, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma on Monday, 22nd February 2021 told newsmen that his subcommittee is currently investigating the allegation of N100 million bribe against Akpabio.

According to media reports, Akapabio allegedly offered bribe to the CCB officials to give a “soft landing” to Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Efiong Okon Akwa over discrepancies in his asset declaration form.

Agbonayinma said the Bureau was looking at the accusation first made against Mr Akpabio by Jackson Ude on Twitter.

“We have been given a mandate by the bureau to investigate the allegation against some officials of CCB that we saw on social media. Let me be specific, one Mr Jackson Ude twitted, and it went viral, that money was given to some officials of CCB by Akpabio. Because of that, a committee to investigate the allegation was set up, with myself as the chairman,” he said.

The embattled Minister, Godswill Akpabio and Effiong Okon Akwa (Sole Administrator of NDDC) were recently accused of having squandered N22billion released to the agency by the Federal Government.

It was also alleged that the Minister is building a multibillion naira mansion in Abuja, and would soon take delivery of two private jets bought on his behalf by a front, one Dubem Obaze.