Looting of Akwa Ibom by Governor Akpabio - A Petition
Monday, 29 September 2008 5:36 AM
Madam,
Re: Governor Godswill Akpabio's Multi-Billion Naira dirty deals,looting of Akwa-Ibom State, financial recklessness, and ongoing plan to bribe and abort criminal trial
- Request for arrest, prosecution and opening of criminal Investigation against Gov. Godswill Akpabio and Obong Umana Oton Umana for criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, fraudulent conversion of public funds, foreign exchange malpractice, intimidation, blackmails and money laundering.
We must start by first saluting the new leadership of the EFCC for its ongoing reorganization of the anti-graft agency and its commitment towards ensuring strict adherence to the principle of Rule of Law in the actualization of the war against corruption.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission which despite crude intimidation and the relentless, but failed attempts to blackmail and bribe its officials, have started the gradual investigation of the whopping N2.5billion fraud committed by Gov. Akpabio, his SSG, Obong Umana and his aides, we wish to call on the EFCC as a matter of urgent public importance to swing into action and take a critical and comprehensive look into the Gov. Akpabio's 14 months reign of deceit, executive recklessness and looting which have led to the shameful embezzlement of over N200 billion in addition to the unaccounted excess crude fund that have accrued to the state from the federation account. Needless to mention the fat monthly Internally Generated Revenue running into billions of naira and the reckless siphoning and deduction of billions of naira from the local government allocation from May 2007 to date (14 months).
Akpabio cannot boast of regular supply of pipe-borne water, good drainage system, functional health centres nor standard schools in any local government in the state. Not even an industry to employ the teeming hungry, jobless and despondent youths of Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio and N33B Entertainment center contract fraud : It is shameful that in a state whose population are made up of 80 percent rural illiterate dwellers, with no access to good drinking water, and quality educational and Health facilities and with 70% poverty level, Gov. Akpabio without due process awarded a whopping N33 billion Akwa Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Center. In less than 2 days of signing the deal, a whopping sum of N20 billion was promptly released. It is shameful that the Gov in a bid to fraudulently amass wealth can embark on this type of fiscal irresponsibility. The project in question was not contained in the budget and its award process fell short of all known fiscal standard, with no tender, bidding or technical evaluation before it was awarded. The money already paid out should be recovered and the front company, Silverbird Show Time Ltd used to execute the scam, made to completely refund the money. The Need for urgent action We plead with the commission to at least visit Akwa Ibom and conduct a detailed investigation on the duo of Gov. Akpabio and his Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Obong Umana Oton Umana over the multi-billion naira fraud and looting which have been the hallmark of Akpabio's visionless government. The investigation will unearth more shocking details of dirty deals which have been perpetrated in the state including many of Akpabio's multi-million naira frivolous international trips. The arrest and prosection of the Governor, SSG and the looting armies of Gov. Akpabio is long overdue. The commission must take this as a matter of urgent national importance as the people of Akwa Ibom have endured enough and will any moment take violent action against Akpabio and his merciless gang of financial rapists.
This may jeopardize the ongoing peace process in our region. The commission should equally ensure that the ongoing move to bribe all anti-corruption agencies in the country including the EFCC for which over N2 billion have been voted and handed over to a member of the National Assembly and retired senior police officer from the state who claims to have access to top anti-graft officers is aborted and the huge public fund recovered.
The only way Nigerians will believe that the commission have not destroyed evidence in its possession and other criminal issues against Akpabio and his SSG is to commence a serious detailed investigation and public prosecution of the two most dangerous booty hunters in the history of Akwa Ibom state.
As a responsible group, citizens and stakeholders in the region and Akwa Ibom state in particular, we , in pursuance of our principle of championing the enthronement of a corrupt-free, decent and peaceful society especially in Akwa Ibom state, decided to write you and give the anti-corruption agencies and security agencies necessary clues that will aid them kick start a preliminary investigation and we will not hesitate to supply original hard copies of documents in our possession once the EFCC commences official probe and recovery of looted public fund. We therefore wish to urge the commission to look into the issues below and decisively take appropriate actions: 1. That the sum of N33billion was used by the government of Akwa Ibom to embark on a white elephant project of building an Entertainment Centre when poverty level in the state is hover around 70%, with a relative absence of basic social infrastructures and a staggering unemployment rate.
2. That this N33billion Entertainment Center Project tagged (Akwa Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Center) was awarded without appropriate legislation by the state House of Assembly, not in the fiscal plan, without due process and in flagrant abuse of constitutional requirements. The contractor behind the scam is Mr. Ben Bruce, the proprietor of Silverbird Showtime Ltd and a business friend of the governor.
3. That the sum of N2.5billion was spent by the governor and four of his aides without budgetary provision. This scam is currently subject of investigation by the ICPC, which led to the arrest and interrogation by ICPC at their Abuja Head office, of the SSG, Speaker of the state House of Assembly , Ignatius Kelvin Edet, Special Adviser on political and legislative matters to the Governor, S. Akpam and the state chairman of the PDP, Ita Toyo. It is very painful that several months after, Akwa Ibom people are yet to be told how their N2.5billion was spent. The matter should be revisited. Part of this fund was wasted on frivolous and illegal donations to non-existing socio-cultural groups and purchase of high class jeeps which were given out as gifts to cronies and allies, traditional rulers and numerous concubines.
4. That the spending spree involved the purchase of luxury cars amounting to over N1.5 billion supplied to the state by Chinto Technologies limited , a company owned by Akpabio's wife, Ekaete.
5. That the governor, within his first year in office, purchased land worth N400 million and has developed a portion of it already as his personal estate.
6. That the governor without recourse to due process , and with no budgetary provision have awarded the contract for building of a new government house at the whopping rate of N6.8b when the existing Government House is still in order. What a waste!
7. That in Akwa Ibom, contracts are awarded without due process or recourse to laid down fiscal rules. Apart from the fact that evidence on ground have shown that contracts are awarded to family members, all contracts are inflated by 30%. It is only in Akwa Ibom that Multi billion Naira projects do not go through the Executive Council for approval. No element of competitive bidding through the tenders board as most project end up being awarded to individuals with close family ties or the SSG Umana and his cronies.
The disappearance of the sales proceeds of the state investments in former V-mobile network is very fraudulent and wicked. The SSG, Umana who supervised the process, then as Commissioner for Finance deliberately and criminally stole the money which was part of the fund the SSG injected into his private company called AEC Works Limited which is registered with the CAC.
8. That it is painful that the refund of $80million dollars by Federal Government on the Independent Power Plant project to the state is still missing till date.
9. That there has been illegal diversion of local government council funds by Akwa Ibom state Governor, Godswill Akpabio to the tune of over N5billon naira. It is very embarrassing that on monthly basis over 60% of the LGA fund is mindlessly deducted by the Governor from the LGA allocation. This can simply be verified by a look at the federal allocation of the ministry of finance to LGs and what is actually in the books of the local councils today. Hence, [there is] no meaningful development in the local governments in the state because of consistent fund paucity.
It is important to note that during the time the governor was Commissioner for local government, under Governor Attah and the current SSG, Umana who was then Commissioner for finance , over 1 billion of the local government fund was missing and have not been accounted for till date.
10. That public fund have been used to fraudulently fund the controversial Akwa Ibom peoples front , alias AKPF, an organization widely known to be a quasi militia and replica of Jomo Kenyetta's Mau Mau, Adolf Hitler's Gestapo and America's KKK.
Since inception of his government, Akpabio has employed intimidation, arrests, seditious and trumped up charges to silence journalists reporting alleged corruption and mismanagement of state resource. The barbaric raid and vandalizing of Fresh Fact Abuja office by suspected thugs was brazenly masterminded by Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Prominent citizens who stands on the side of truth are framed up, blackmailed and harassed into silence at all cost. The kidnap and near murder of the Fresh Facts editorial board chairman and his daughter, Mr. Sam Asowata is still fresh in our mind.
11. That investigation should be conducted on the owners and promoters of the construction companies that were involved in the IPP project, the Ibom Le Meridien Hotel, Akwa Ibom airport, the Science Park and others . The facts behind this project will expose the greatest financial and corrupt practice ever perpetrated in our dear state.
The Evil in the SSG, Obong Umana Oton Umana 12. That Obong Umana Umana, the current SSG is the brain behind the financial manipulation that have been taking place in Akwa Ibom from the days of Governor Attah till date. His investment and business empire span across the length and breadth of the country and owns considerable share holding in almost all the major projects initiated by the government. - The SSG own Globalek , a company that has been involved in all the grandiose projects embarked upon by the government especially under Governor Attah - Where did Umana get money to build his palatial personal mansion valued at over 300 million naira? - where did Umana get money to set up AEC works construction company managed by his younger brother? - where did Umana get money to set up a security and stock brokering firm called KOFANA SECURITIES . The firm, whose office is located on Aka road in Uyo is moving into the newly commissioned APIICO building on Olusegun Obasanjo way. Other branches of the firm are located in Lagos and Port Harcourt. - The SSG and his company are the consultants to the comatose Ibom Science Park project which was used as a conduit pipe to siphon millions of dollars. Projects of such type which the SSG have deep interest and can be verified are the Amakpe Refinery, Universal oil, Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, to mention a few. - Where did the SSG keep the millions of dollars realized from the off loading of the state shares in the former V-moblie telecom company? - That the SSG should be investigated to unearth the role he and his company played in the frittering away of N6billion naira in Ibom Science Park and award of choice contracts to a construction company , AEC works limited owned by the SSG and his brother.
13 That investigations into the usage of the ecological fund which is another area in which Akpabio massively and fraudulently short-changed our people. This fund should be completely recovered because evidence on ground have shown that no single ecological project have been executed by Governor Akpabio, yet fund for Ecology has all been fully disbursed and expended.
Finally it is our desire, that immediate unravelling of the details of this fraud should be commenced immediately with the proper investigation of the accounts record and administrative books of the government to authenticate the above leads and help ensure a successful criminal conviction of this gang of financial rapists who by political error, are economically and politically holding the innocent people of Akwa Ibom hostage in their own land.
The systematic looting of the treasury of the Akwa Ibom state government as led by Gov. Godswill Akpabio and Obong Umana Oton Umana must be halted at all cost and immediately to help save the economically ravaged people of our state before the damage goes too far. This is barely 14 months! It would amount to a massive economic disaster if allowed to go unchecked for 4 years. The Gov and Umana are not only the evils that exist in our state, their shameless cohorts include the Commissioners for Finance , Local Government Affairs, Works and Housing, the Accountant General, the Speaker and the helpless members of the state House of Assembly. They should all be investigated and made to face public prosecution .
May God bless you. As you act on this petition and would in time forward additional original documents to this effect.
Long live the war against corruption!
Hon. (Barr) Bassey Affian (State Director, NDTI)
SILVERBIRD TO LAUNCH PORT HARCOURT VENUE
Release Information: For Immediate Release
Summary: Silverbird Showtime, opening in March, will feature an 8-screen cineplex, a kingpin restaurant and Baglios ice cream. Expect more entertainment activites in 2010, including the Silverbird Lifestyle Store and Games Arcade.
Silverbird Showtime Unveils in Port Harcourt
Residents of Port Harcourt and environs, and indeed Nigerians and tourists, would have a chance to experience the unique style of Silverbird entertainment as it unveils a new outlet in the area to be known as Silverbird Showtime.
The grand opening of the first phase is this March. The centre promises to offer a unique shopping and entertainment experience to residents and tourists.
The Silverbird Showtime complex will have an 8-screen cineplex, a kingpin restaurant and Baglios ice cream.
By 2010 when the second phase is complete, Silverbird Showtime will launch the Silverbird Lifestyle Store, Games Arcade, Supermarkets, Restaurants, Designer Shops, Pharmacy and a host of other outlets to give you the ultimate shopping experience.
Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State, is excited about the grand opening and believes it will go a long way to confirm that the Niger Delta and indeed Port Harcourt, is not a theatre of war as its erroneously believed in some quarters.
According to Amaechi, the opening reassures both local and foreign investors of the security of their investments and workers.
Ben Murray Bruce, Chairman Silverbird Group, said it is a chance for Port Harcourt residents to experience world class entertainment from a world class entertainment outfit – Silverbird. Posted by Charles Kalu.
Further Information: For further information please visit http://silverbirdgroup.com
About: Silverbird Group is all about Entertainment. Contact Us: 17 A Commercial Avenue Yaba Lagos, Nigeria http://www.silverbirdgroup.com/press-releases