Former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has been summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption. While the details of the allegations were not made public, it is known that Akpabio has been under investigation by the EFCC for some time now.
The investigation into Akpabio’s alleged corruption dates back to 2020 when the EFCC announced that it was probing him while he served as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. In a letter from Adebayo Adeniyi, head of the economic governance section at the EFCC, the commission stated that investigation into the case had commenced.
A letter from the Chamber of Mr. Umeh Kalu (SAN) dated March 27, 2023, was sent to the anti-graft agency, where Akpabio’s counsel appealed to the EFCC to reschedule his appearance before the commission to a later date after the forthcoming Easter and Ramadan holidays.
The letter referred to a previous letter of February 10, 2023, where the EFCC was informed that the former minister was undergoing treatment for pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia and was advised to seek further medical help abroad. The letter respectfully requested that the appointment be rescheduled to a date convenient to the EFCC officers, after the holidays.
It is unclear when the EFCC will reschedule the appointment. Akpabio is a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and served as a senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. He is also a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The investigation into the alleged corruption by Akpabio is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption in the country. The EFCC has been at the forefront of this effort, investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of corruption, regardless of their status or political affiliations.
