TheCable

The Akwa Ibom state government has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of witch-hunting it.

Charles Udoh, commissioner of information, said this in a statement issued on Thursday.

The commission was accused of attempting to soil the reputation of Udom Emmanuel, the governor.

“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Government has been drawn to a December 5, 2018 publication on an online news outlet, alleging an indictment of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel and some officers of the state by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over a purported withdrawal of N1.7bn from the state coffers,” the statement read.

“The alleged indictment by the EFCC is a baseless and malicious allegation, tainted with political undertone to malign the integrity of the current Government of Akwa Ibom State.

“It is another face-saving attempt by the EFCC to justify the several illegalities it has allowed itself to be used to perpetrate against the Government and good people of a peaceful state by the opposition party.
“These antics of the EFCC have continued to attract widespread condemnation from within and outside the country.

“It is instructive to note that the EFCC is regurgitating this line of skewed narrative in the media for the umpteenth time in a flagrant act of impunity against the judicial process.

“The Akwa Ibom State Government had instituted a legal proceeding against the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Uyo, and therefore would remain fervent in its determination not to be dragged into a public discourse on a matter that is patently sub-judice.

“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.

“In the last three and a half years, Akwa Ibom State has been 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 the state’s annual audited financial statements are available in the public domain.
“For the records, the current Government of Akwa Ibom State is led by a consummate professional with over two decades of proven track record of integrity and performance in financial management, which transcends the boarders of Nigeria.”