Akpabio’s Arrest: CACOL Hails The EFCC

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has hailed the effort of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at bringing the corrupt politicians to book.

This came on the heels of the arrest and quizzing of the past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godwill Akpabio by the Commission on Friday, 16th October, 2015.

Akpabio was quizzed in respect of a petition written against him by an Abuja-Lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong and some indigenes of Akwa Ibom State. The petitions border on the misappropriation of state resources while he held sway as governor of the state. The Senate’s minority leader was alleged of misappropriating N108.1billion of Akwa Ibom funds plunging the state into huge indebtedness.

The petitioners also noted that they had, sequel to their earlier petitions dated June 8th and 22nd respectively, further discovered an uncommon diversion of the state’s tax-payers’ monies for the acquisition of massive estates property by Godswill Akpabio and his surrogates. As a result of the petitions, the crimes commission had swung into action to investigate the matter.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran described Akpabio’s arrest as another step in the right direction in the war against corruption in Nigeria and commended the EFCC for their effort so far on the case.

He said, “Akpabio’s arrest is a further reassurance that the President Mohammadu Buhari means business at ensuring that no corruption criminal, no matter how highly-placed or influential, go unpunished.

Many of the past public office holders who thought they have successfully bamboozled the people they pretended they served by presenting fake, over bloated and over-priced projects should begin to count their days as free men and women. However, the authorities should not make these arrests mere window dressing where the ritual ‘arrest, arraign and release’ for political reasons will re-enact.

We also urge the Buhari’s regime to treat anyone with corruption petitions with all seriousness. Suspicion or charges against them shouldn’t go scot-free without due diligence investigations and prosecution for reasons of political expediency.

We’re aware that many of the recently announced ministerial nominees have a lot of corruption questions to answer; as a matter of fact, the defence some of them put up during their screening turned out to be self-indictment of corruption allegations against them.

Since nepotism is a form of corruption; that someone belongs to the ruling party, is a legislator or a minister should not be misconstrued as immunity against prosecution. Such people should not be allowed to occupy any public office till they satisfactorily answer the charges against them lest they constitute a dent on its anti-corruption image.

CACOL promises to be partner in progress with the regime for as long as it continues to take open, transparent, accountable and participatory governance that leaves trails for probity seriously.”