Opposition using EFCC to fight us, says Akwa Ibom

The government of Akwa Ibom state has alleged that its opponents are using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fight it.

Charles Udoh, commissioner for information, said this in response to the allegation that the anti-graft agency is probing the alleged withdrawal of N6.5 billion from the state government account.

In a statement, Udoh said those who were against the current administration the state have been peddling lies.

“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Government has been drawn to a publication alleging an Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe of Akwa Ibom Government over withdrawal of N6.5bn from the state coffers,” he said.

“We wish to state emphatically as follows; that this is a malicious allegation and a desperate face saving effort by the EFCC to justify the several illegalities it has allowed itself to be used by the opposition to perpetrate against the Akwa Ibom State Government which have attracted widespread condemnation within and outside the country.

“For avoidance of doubt, the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria authorizes only the state House of Assembly and the state Auditor-General to pry into the financial dealings of a state government

“For the records, the current administration has made Akwa Ibom State one of the few states; if not the only state that publishes its annual audited financial statements. This underscores the state government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity in governance. Copies of the state’s annual audited financial statements are available in the public domain.”

He accused the commission of being used for political purposes.

“It is ludicrous that the EFCC has allowed itself to degenerate into a tool of loopsided political mudsling and witch-hunting used by the opposition in the state to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Akwa Ibom State Government,” he said.

“This story was earlier published in the same newspaper by the same author on August 12, 2018, and since it did not have the intended effects, EFCC has sadly condescended to regurgitating the story in a flagrant act of impunity against existing laws of Nigeria.

“The Akwa Ibom state Government will do all within its lawful limits to protect the integrity of governance in the state.”