ABUJA - The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, today, affirmed that the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, was validly elected to represent Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District in the State.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
In their judgment this afternoon, a three-man panel of Justices of the appellate court led by Justice Mashood Oredola, dismissed appeal that was lodged against Akpabio by candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Senatorial District, Chief Inibehe Okori.
The appellate court held that the Akwa Ibom State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal acted properly when it dismissed the joint petition that Okori and APC filed before it on April 18.
According to the court, the appellants failed to by preponderance of evidence, prove that Akpabio was not duly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the March 28 election.
According to the appellate court, the fact that Akpabio was in an initial list that was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the PDP, erroneously identified as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North East, did not invalidate his election.
It held that Akpabio was duly nominated for the election in accordance with the provisions of section 65(2) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, and section138(1) of the Electoral Act.
“The tribunal was right to hold that no one was mislead by the mistake. The 1st Respondent was qualified and duly nominated by the 3rd Respondent.
“There is abundant evidence that the electorates, including the petitioners, were not in any way undecided as to the Senatorial District which the 1st respondent was nominated to contest the election.
“The 1st Respondent have proved by credible evidence that he was duly sponsored by the 3rd Respondent and was eminently qualified to contest the election.
“The electorates that trooped out to vote on March 28 must have their wishes and votes respected. The real essence of democratic practice is to afford them the opportunity to express their wish through the ballot, so as to have their say. Once they have spoken, their voice must not only be heard but must be protected as well as respected.
“In the overall, this appeal lacks merit and is hereby refused. The judgement of the tribunal delivered on October 14 is hereby affirmed. There shall be no order as to cost”, the appeal court ruled.
The appellants had at the lower tribunal, contended that as at March 28, 2015, Akpabio, was not qualified to contest for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Seat, having not been validly nominated or sponsored by any political party in line with the provisions of section 65(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
The APC candidate equally placed reliance on section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, which requires that political parties shall within 60 days to the election, submit a list of the candidates it would sponsor at the poll to INEC.
The petitioners urged the tribunal to determine whether the announcement/ declaration of the 1st respondent (Akpabio) as winner of the Senatorial District was not invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, as amended.
It was also the argument of the petitioners that PDP fielded no candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, even as they urged the tribunal to hold that all votes cast or allocated to the PDP were void.
The All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, Mr. Inibehe Okori, has appealed the decision of the Akwa Ibom State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
Okori is challenging the tribunal’s verdict for upholding the March 28, 2015 senatorial election, which produced former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, as winner.
A statement by Okori’s media adviser, Mr. Daniel Etokiden, in Uyo on Sunday, said that it was regrettable that despite the alleged cases of over voting, the tribunal still ruled that Akpabio’s election was conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
In a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, the appellant submitted, “That the learned justices of the trial tribunal erred in law when they found and held that the Independent National Electoral Commission had the power to on its own to normalise any anomaly in Akpabio’s nomination form by resorting to his personal particulars to determine his appropriate constituency.
“That the learned justices of the trial tribunal erred in law when they found and held the 1st ground of the petition is based on a technical error in the nomination documents of the 3rd respondent and does not affect the substance of Akpabio’s nomination to contest the election.
“That the learned justices of the trial tribunal exhibited double standards in resolving the issues placed by the parties before them and therefore erred in law.
“That the learned justices of the trial tribunal erred in law when they found and held that exhibit P.19 (card reader report) is inadmissible and proceeded to expunge same from the records.
“That the judgement, entered by the tribunal, is against the weight of evidence adduced at the trial which all amounted to a miscarriage of justice.”
ABUJA – FORMER governor of Akwa Ibom State and senator representing Akwa Ibom North West, Godswill Akpabio,yesterday,explained that his visit last week to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was voluntary.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio, who is representing his constituency, on the platform of the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,however, said he was earlier invited by the commission,but said the invitation was a long time ago.
Speaking with newsmen, in Abuja, the Senate Minority Leader said: “I was invited by the EFCC but that was a long time ago, just before my accident and I said okay, that when I am fit, I Will go to see them to respond to the allegation that they said a young lawyer wrote against me.”
“So, when I was chanced on Friday, I went there on my own to listen to them, to go through the petitions and make my response and thereafter, I was allowed to go and I was admitted on bail.
“I think that is in line with their procedure, so it wasn’t a function of an arrest.
“It was a voluntary decision on my part as a law abiding citizen to go there. I heard that some youths were very disturbed in various parts of the Niger Delta.
“It wasn’t a problem. I feel as a law abiding citizen people write petitions against you. As a lawyer, we believe in let the other side be heard,”he added.
Senator Akpabio spoke further: “The problem we have is the way sometimes things are publicised. Allegation is not guilt and then of course the blotted figures that we see.
“If somebody has a petition against you for N20 billion, they will write N200 billion or N10 billion, they will then say trillion, it goes all over the world that so and so person is standing trial.
“In fact, it almost like judgment, the way the press reports it. Outside that, I think it is a civic responsibility and the right thing for me to do as a senator that if a petition is written against me, I should go and answer so that they will have an informed judgment but that does not mean that is admission of guilt no.”
He stressed: “I just want to urge all my people in Akwa Ibom State who probably were disturbed to know that such monies were not missing from the coffers of the state, that is the simple truth and if we had such additional sums as he mentioned, we would have done more for the state.
“It unarguably accepted worldwide even by the international community that my eight years tenure was a revolution in infrastructure, in human capital development in education.
” Many of you are not even aware that I even built a state university in 2010 and by the time I was leaving office in 2015, I graduated the first set of students.
” Many people are not aware of that, not to talk of the fly- overs all over Uyo, 37 bridges constructed. We are now looking at three brand new international hotels, Le Meridian Hotel, the Hilton Hotel, the Sheraton hotel, when all of them are put to use, they are economic enablers.
“Then we have the hospital, which is about five stories,the hospital, it will take you about three hours to go through the ground floor.”
ABUJA – Presidency Sunday said that the defeated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was a party to be pitied, saying the opposition party has run out of ideas.
Mr. Femi Adesina | credits: sunnewsonline.com
The presidency’s swipe was however a reaction to the PDP’s assertion on Sunday that the interrogation of the Senator Godswill Akpabio, immediate Governor of Akwa Ibom by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC was a grand plot by the government of President Mohammadu Buhari to weaken the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The party also accused the President of selective judgement, asking him to also go for former governors of Lagos State and others who hail from his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking to Vanguard, the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said that PDP was a broken recorded that was needed to be discarded.
“The opposition seems to have run out of ideas so soon. Daily, we hear the same jaded, hackneyed allegations from them. I think they really are to be pitied. They need help.
“A broken record that repeats itself ceaselessly is of no use than to be thrown away”, he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday reacted to the ongoing investigation of former Akwa Ibom State governor and Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying the presidency is only using its anti-corruption posture as a tool to witch-hunt PDP members and perceived political opponents of APC government.
Olisah Metuh
The interrogation continued on Saturday, after which the former governor was released. But on Sunday the PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh, at a news conference in Abuja said Akpabio’s investigation by the anti-graft agency was politically motivated and calculated to weaken the party ahead of the 2019 elections. He also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being dictatorial and deliberately harassing and hounding PDP members.
“Whereas the PDP has over time restated its support for a credible, holistic fight against corruption, unfolding events have confirmed our position that this administration is only using the anti-corruption posture as a tool to witch-hunt PDP members and perceived political opponents of APC government,” he said.
“We are aware that having realized that Nigerians have seen through their propaganda, deceit and lies, as well as their ineptitude in handling governance, the APC government is now mortally afraid of the on-going rebuilding in the PDP to take over power in 2019, and is as such, applying every negative means to decimate our great party, including the relentless victimization of our key members.
“It is clearly manifest that the same dictatorial tendencies manifested during the military regime of 1984 are being presently applied in the polity in the attempt to discredit PDP members and weaken our great party ahead of 2019.
“The APC and its government have been busy denigrating the PDP and trying to appropriate our achievements, while at the same time blackmailing, hounding and harassing our elected members with the aim to cow and force them to leave the PDP and join their party. “We have verifiable reports from our key members that agents of the APC have been approaching them to join the APC with threats to use the EFCC to victimise them should they refuse. The APC and its agents have been boasting that they have the powers to deal with or spare any person, depending on the party such person belongs to.
“This clearly explains why the so-called fight against corruption has been selective and focused against PDP members, despite counsels by stakeholders that it should be holistic and in accordance with the due process of the law.
“The best example of the curious nature of the war against corruption is the fact that former PDP governors and ministers are being hounded and arrested over apparently orchestrated petitions, while their APC counterparts, who have more damaging petitions, are being nominated for ministerial positions. Even other APC former governors who have on-going corruption cases in court are being rewarded with APC tickets for the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa.
“On the issue of Senator Godswill Akpabio, we invite Nigerians to note that in the three rich states of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Lagos states, there were petitions against their former governors. Whereas the former APC governors of Lagos and Rivers were rewarded with ministerial nominations, their Akwa Ibom PDP counterpart and the current senate minority leader is being hounded by the EFCC.
“This is in spite of the common knowledge that Akwa Ibom under the Senator Akpabio is arguably the least indebted state in Nigeria, and where the governor appropriately applied available resources to effectively transform the state. We challenge the APC to show Nigerians any of their governor that matched the feats achieved in Akwa Ibom under Senator Akpabio, whose only building in Uyo is uncompleted and being built with verifiable bank loans.
“The PDP therefore state categorically that the orchestrated investigation of Senator Akpabio is politically motivated and targeted at weakening the PDP for 2019 elections, by virtue of his being the face of opposition in the national assembly.
“It is also part of the fight by the presidency to weaken the legislature as an arm of government and prevent it from effectively carrying out its constitutional role of checks and balances in a democracy.
“As we speak, no APC member, despite the public petitions of corruption and squandering of state funds, has been invited or questioned by the EFCC. We challenge the EFCC, as an anti-corruption agency, to show Nigerians any member of the APC it has so far questioned, not to talk of being arrested since the emergence of this administration, despite petitions against them.
“This government has established itself as a hypocritical regime that accommodates corruption, profligacy and sleazes in government quarters while hoodwinking the people and witch-hunting PDP members.
“The hypocrisy of this administration came to the fore with the show of insensitivity to the mood of the nation as copiously demonstrated in Saturday’s ostentatious thanksgiving party (with hundreds of millions of naira spent) by the secretary to the government of the federation, (SFG) Engr Babachir David Lawal, at a time the people of the northeast geo-political zone, where he hails from, are being ravaged by insurgency. “Finally, we request Mr President to end this dictatorial proclivity of selective anti-corruption war that has characterized the APC government.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is lining up several functionaries of the Akwa Ibom State government for arrest after interrogating for the second day running yesterday, the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over alleged mismanagement of N108.1billion while in office.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
Also expected to be picked up for questioning by the anti-corruption agency are officials of banks allegedly used for illegal deals by Akpabio.
The former governor was first questioned on Friday but was released on an administrative bail at about 9pm.
He returned yesterday to the anti-graft agency for further questioning.
There were indications that some officials of Akwa Ibom State Government and a few banks might be quizzed too.
Akpabio arrived EFCC at about 11.45am yesterday and he was still there as at about 7 pm.
It was gathered that the ex-governor was accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), a publisher, Mr. Wole Arisekola and a friend, Mr. Segun Odubela.
Akpabio’s associates claimed he left EFCC at about 3.30pm.
A source in EFCC said: “Akpabio came back for the continuation of interaction with EFCC team on the allegations against him. We did not detain him on Friday in line with our respect for his fundamental rights.
“Having been served with a copy of the petition, he spent about four hours responding to the allegations in writing. He wrote his statement under caution.
“We asked him a few questions on some grey areas in his statement before he left. The investigation of the case is ongoing.”
Responding to a question, the EFCC top official said: “We are going to interrogate some officials of Akwa Ibom State Government and a few banks.
“Some of these officials were named in the petition by a lawyer-activist, Mr. Leo Ekpenyong.”
One of those who accompanied Akpabio to EFCC, Mr. Wole Arisekola, said that the ex-governor “only went there to write a statement on Saturday.”
He said: “There was a petition against him and as a man of honour he went to EFCC to respond to the allegations. He was not arrested as being insinuated.
“We hope some former governors, who have petitions against them, will also be courageous enough to defend their actions in office.”
Ekpenyong had in his petition alleged that Akpabio mismanaged the state funds.
He said: “Between January –December 2014, it is on record that the trio of Godswill Akpabio and two others made illegal but substantial withdrawals of cash from a designated state government-owned account with Zenith Bank with account number: 1010375881 amounting to N22.1 billion.
“It is worthy of note that reasons for such ungodly cash withdrawals against financial regulations and due process laws range between sundry use and unjustifiable expenditures by Godswill Akpabio and his numerous surrogates and proxies.
“For example, a whopping N18 billion was withdrawn fraudulently from the state FAAC account with the United Bank for Africa in tranches of N10 million and above by Mr. Isobara in a surreptitious manner to conceal their dishonest intention.”
“The cumulative aggregate of these monies stolen by Godswill Akpabio from the coffers of government as pocket money is the annual budget of some states in Nigeria put together.”
Following his Friday’s arrest and and eventual release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has returned to his Abuja residence, affirming that he has nothing to hide about his term in office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio who served two terms, as governor of the state between 2007 and 2015, was invited, yesterday, at about 5. 20pm to the Abuja Headquarters of the EFCC, over a petition dated June 22, 2015 and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC.
The petitioner, Leo Ekpenyong alleged that Akpabio, fraudulently converted N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as governor.
Akpabio, who honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation, accompanied by a few aides and his lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN), said via his Twitter handle, @SenAkpabio managed by his social media team, that he has arrived home some hours after.
The tweets read: “His Excellency, Senator Akpabio is back to the house. We want to reaffirm that he has nothing whatsoever to hide about his term in office in Akwa Ibom.”
Earlier, @SenAkpabio had tweeted: “Senator Akpabio was never arrested. He simply obliged an invitation to come and answer some questions at the EFCC headquarters.
“Senator Akpabio has nothing to hide that’s why he walked into EFCC himself this evening to answer questions about his tenure in Akwa Ibom.
“Those who are playing politics with the decision of Senator Akpabio to honour the EFCC invitation must be acting a known script.
“Senator Akpabio was called from EFCC to come for explanations and he drove there himself 50 minutes later. So, why all the news of arrest?”
A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and incumbent Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, was on Friday arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
PREMIUM TIMES investigation shows that Mr. Akpabio was taken in by EFCC operatives at about 5.20 pm.
He was said to have been accompanied a few aides and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ricky Tarfa.
An aide to the former governor, who cannot be named because he is not authorised to speak on the matter told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Akpabio is currently being interrogated by top officials of the EFCC.
An EFCC source confirmed the development.
“He was brought in at about 5.20 pm accompanied by a few aides and Mr. Rickey Tarfa,” the source said.
“It is not yet known whether he will be allowed to go this night. It depends on how the interrogation goes.”
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, did not answer or return calls seeking comment for this story.
The EFCC had begun investigation into alleged theft of N108.1billion of Akwa Ibom funds by the former governor in June.
The action followed a petition forwarded to the commission by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong.
Mr. Ekpenyong had on June 8 petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Mr. Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting Akwa Ibom state treasury.
Investigations by PREMIUM TIMES showed that several other indigenes of the state who are demanding the investigation of the former governor, have been invited by the EFCC to adopt their petitions.
On his part, Mr. Ekpenyong was summoned on Wednesday, June 17, to adopt his petition and provide more details to some of the allegations he made against Mr. Akpabio.
The former governor, now senator, was elected in 2007, at a time the nation enjoyed robust oil revenue.
Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are Nigeria’s largest oil-producing states. The two states alternate as first and second top producers periodically.
The two states receive the highest funds allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, monthly.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation indicate that under Mr. Akpabio, known for ostentatious spending, Akwa Ibom received a staggering N1. 6 trillion from FAAC between June 2007 and May 2014.
At the time he vacated office on May 29, the state received more, excluding other revenues like Ecological Funds, internally generated revenue etc.
In a new petition to the EFCC dated June 22, and copied to Mr. Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Mr. Ekpenyong gave details of some of Mr. Akpabio’s alleged financial recklessness.
He alleged that between January and December 2014, the ex-governor colluded with two of his top aides to steal a whopping N108.1 billion from the state’s treasury.
Mr. Ekpenyong told the EFCC that the former Government House Permanent Secretary, Etekamba Umoren, and the former Accountant General of the state, Udo Isobara, colluded with Mr. Akpabio to steal the funds.
“Between January –December 2014, it is on record that the trio of Godswill Akpabio, Mr. Etekamba Umoren and Mr. Udo Isobara, made illegal but substantial withdrawals of cash from a designated state government-owned account with Zenith Bank with account number: 1010375881 amounting to N22.1 billion,” he stated in the petition.
“It is worthy of note that reasons for such ungodly cash withdrawals against financial regulations and due process laws range between sundry use and unjustifiable expenditures by Godswill Akpabio and his numerous surrogates and proxies.
“For example, a whopping N18 billion was withdrawn fraudulently from the state FAAC account with the United Bank for Africa in trenches of N10 million and above by Mr. Isobara in a surreptitious manner to conceal their dishonest intention.”
For assisting Mr. Akpabio retire billions of the stolen funds, Mr. Ekpenyong said Mr. Umoren was rewarded with an appointment as Government House chief of staff and now secretary to the state government under Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
The legal practitioner went on to state that over N50 billion of Akwa Ibom funds were spent by the former governor during the last general elections.
During the period under review, he said Mr. Akpabio also withdrew a whopping N18 billion from the state coffers under the guise of special services, reception of very important guests and sundry items.
“The cumulative aggregate of these monies stolen by Godswill Akpabio from the coffers of government as pocket money is the annual budget of some states in Nigeria put together,” the petition reads.
He listed the bouquet of assets acquired by the former governor through surrogates to include a multi-billion naira mansion at Plot 5 Okogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja, a multi-billion naira mansionette at Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama, Abuja and another multi-billion naira mansion at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Others include a multi-billion naira mansionette at Plot 23 Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos and a multi-
billion naira 25 storey building at Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“As earlier promised, more details of assets and graft-related funds illegally and fraudulently siphoned from Akwa Ibom State treasury and laundered to foreign destinations are in the offing. As usual, we will do the needful.
An EFCC source said senior officials of the commission held discussions with Mr. Ekpenyong on the petition on Tuesday.
“He also adopted the petition he forwarded to the commission and provided additional details about the alleged stealing of funds by the former governor,” the source said.
The source noted that many of those who have sent petitions to the commission against the former governor, now senator, have already been invited to adopt their document.
He confirmed that very soon the commission would invite the former governor for questioning.
Allegations, complete falsehood
Mr. Akpabio could not be reached for this story. Messrs Umoren and Isobara could not also be reached for comments.
But the commissioner of information during the administration of Mr. Akpabio, Aniekan Umana, described the contents of the petition by Mr. Ekpenyong as falsehood taken too far.
He said the petition betrayed a lack of understanding of the workings of government.
“Every sum withdrawn from a government account is tied to a subhead and there must be a budgetary provision. To attribute fraud to withdrawals which had the full sanction of Government and was accommodated in the budget is strange, mischievous and untenable. More so, when one understands that there are checks and balances which guide all aspects of government financial administration,” he said.
He also said the allegation that the State Government spent N50 billion on the March General Elections falls flat on its face based on his explanations of the workings of government as regards financial transactions.
“There was no such provision in the budget of this year and such an amount could not have been paid as an extra-budgetary expenditure and yet salaries and other commitments were met. We challenge the petitioners to provide proof to support this wild allegation. Who was it paid to? How was it paid? Where was it paid? And when was it paid?
“Senator Akpabio does not own a 25-storey building in Victoria Island or in any part of the world, as alleged by the petitioner. It is also a patent falsehood that the house at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi belongs to Senator Akpabio.
It is a rented building which ownership can be verified from Lagos State Lands Registry.
“Senator Akpabio does not own the properties mentioned in the petition to belong to him. You can verify the ownership of the properties (5 Okokosi Close, Maitama and Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama) from the land registry in Abuja,” he said.
He also denied the state received over N2 trillion as oil allocation.
“Please do note that the idea that the Akwa Ibom State Government received over N2.5 trillion in the eight years of the Akpabio administration is an outrageous lie. What this suggests is that the State Government received an average of N26 billion monthly for the period. What a lie! From published accounts of disbursement from the Federation Accounts, Akwa Ibom State never received up to N26 billion in any month throughout the period.
Note that in some months like the April and May, 2015, Akwa Ibom State received about N8 billion
ABUJA—–The Akwa Ibom State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, this afternoon, affirmed the former governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio, as the winner of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Seat.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
In its judgement, the tribunal headed by Goddy Anunihu, dismissed the petition that was lodged against Akpabio’s election by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate for the Senatorial District, Chief Inibehe Okori.
The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that the erstwhile governor was not validly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the March 28, 2015, National Assembly election.
It held that the fact that Akpabio was in an initial list that was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the PDP, erroneously identified as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North East, did not invalidate his election.
“There is abundant evidence that the electorates, including the petitioners, were not in any way deceived as to the Senatorial District which the 1st respondent was nominated to contest the election.
“There is also uncontroverted evidence that the 1st petitioner bought the form of the 3rd Respondent (PDP) for the same Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District before he lost the ticket and decamped to the APC”.
Noting that INEC, had 30 days before the election took place, published names of all the candidates for the election and their Senatorial Districts, the tribunal, maintained that, “If the petitioners had any reason to believe that the 1st respondent was not qualified to contest the election, they would have taken up the matter immediately and do the needful”.
It held that the election that produced Akpabio was done in substantial compliance to the Electoral Act, 2010.
“We hold that the petitioners are not therefore entitled to any of the reliefs they sought in this petition and it is therefore accordingly dismissed”.
The tribunal ordered the petitioners to pay a cost of N30, 000 to each of the three respondents in the matter.
Barely six days after he was involved in a car accident on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Senate Minority leader and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has broken his silence from his hospital bed, where he is currently recuperating.
Akpabio in his hospital bed
According to government sources, the lawmaker, who was on Monday, earlier rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja, for urgent attention, reportedly left for the United Kingdom aboard a private jet last Tuesday.
Akpabio who just opened a Twitter account on Saturday, and have gathered about 495 followers, tweeted via his handle @SenAkpabio that he was only down, but not out.
He said: “Though down but not out, I will rise again. I also thank former President, Goodluck Jonathan, members of our party, friends and loved ones for their calls and show of affection. God bless you.
“Thank you Nigerians for your prayers. I appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others for their calls.”
Recall that Akpabio was last Monday involved in a car accident on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to catch up with an international flight.
He was said to be travelling abroad to visit his wife and children when the unfortunate incident happened.
The accident reportedly took place at Bolingo Hotel junction, in the Central Business District, Abuja, where his car had collided with a United States embassy vehicle after beating the traffic.
The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has travelled out of Nigeria for medical treatment abroad after sustaining injuries in a car crash Monday.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
The lawmaker left for the United Kingdom aboard a private jet Tuesday, government sources said.
Mr. Akpabio, who is the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, was initially treated at the national hospital, Abuja. His car had collided with a United States embassy vehicle after beating the traffic.
Akwa Ibom government sources said the former governor preferred to seek medical help overseas than do so at a N30 billion hospital he opened shortly before leaving office in May.
Unveiling the facility in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, in May 2015, Mr. Akpabio had told Nigerians the hospital was of world-class specialist standard with ultra-modern medical facilities that would attract medical tourism to state.
He said the hospital was equipped with “640 city scanners, digital mammography, endoscopy surgery, highly sophisticated intensive care units and medical gas plants with fully automated laboratories”.
“We lose billions of dollars every year to medical trips abroad. We have also lost a lot of people, not because we don’t have the expertise in the country,” Mr. Akpabio said during the commissioning of the hospital.
“We needed a hospital that can run at international standard. We also decided to have a hospital that would answer to the needs of Nigerians in terms of advanced health management. And that was why we built the Akwa Ibom Specialist Hospital,” he said.
He said the hospital was higher than a teaching hospital, and that it was a “quaternary hospital”. The governor said the entire hospital system was hooked up to the global system for best practice.
“We are starting it with about six modular theatres with equipment, that if for instance you are doing a cardiological investigation on a patient, cardiologists from around the world can hook up to the theatre and see real time what is going on and make their contributions to the examination and operation,” he said.
Mr. Akpabio also noted that instead of rich Nigerians and other nationals of West African countries to go abroad, it would be easier to visit the Uyo hospital.
“Sometimes, people die in the air while being transported abroad for treatment. We wanted to shorten travel time for patients going abroad and at the same time get revenue for the state from health tourism,” he saoid.
“It is a beautiful concept, it is also very big. It is comfort combined with excellence. We have about 380 suites and so many operating wards. We are starting with 150 expatriates all at once. We are in agreement with a Swiss hospital group and an Arab healthcare group in partnership with Cardio Care in Lagos, which is a group of cardiologists.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has set up a task force to probe eight former governors.
Amaechi, APC governors
A top operative of the commission, who confided in our correspondent on Wednesday, said that the task force was set up following petitions written against the former governors.
It was learnt that top operatives of the commission working in the task force had been dispatched to the states to carry out the probe of the affected former governors.
A top operative of the commission said that the former governors were Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Chief Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.
The source said that the other four were on the waiting list.
The former governors on the waiting list, according to the source are, Mr. Raji Fashola of Lagos State, Godswiil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State and Alhaji Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
The source said that the ICPC was not considering political parties or association in its response to allegations of corruption made against the affected personalities in the petition.
The source said, “It is true that we are going after eight former governors. The investigation against four of the former governors of Rivers, Katsina, Kano and Enugu has commenced.
“However, the commission has listed four other former governors who are on the waiting list because of petitions against them. They are the immediate past governors of Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Jigawa States.
“A Special Task Force was set up by the Chairman of the commission last week to coordinate the investigation in the states. So we are reopening the petitions through the Chairman of the Special Task Force.”
The probe is coming on the heels of a recent move by the ICPC to move 47 crack detectives to the states and the zones to strengthen them in the fight against graft in the society.
The Resident Consultant, Media and Events, of the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, refused to comment on the story when contacted.
None of the ex-governors was available for comment on the probe.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has received a fresh petition against a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
The petition was titled “Petition against former Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State for gross and uncommon abuse of public trust.”
Copies of the petition were also sent to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Director General of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura.
This was the third petition against the former governor who is now a member of the Senate and was recently appointed Minority Leader in the upper chamber.
In the latest petition dated August 3, 2015 and was received by the commission on August 5, 2015, the petitioner, Leo Ekpenyong, said he had discovered what he called “uncommon diversion of Akwa Ibom tax payers’ money for the acquiring of massive properties by the former governor.”
Ekpenyong, who wrote from chamber, Leo Ekpeyong and Co, said, “The properties owned by Akpabio and his surrogates are itemised as follows:
“Eleven blocks of four luxury flats, making it a total of 44 luxury flats, registered in the name of Prince Ukpong Akpabio. The location is Woji, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State.
“It is worthy of note that former Governor Akpabio owns a total of 27 estates different from the ones mentioned in our earlier petitions.
“Some of the housing estates have between 25 and 75 high rise premium units.
“These estates are located in the Lekki area(Ikate Elegushi Estate), Lekki Phase 1, near Pan African University off Chevron roundabout (Lagos State).
“Others are Banana Island in Ikoyi, Gbagada on the mainland as well as Ogunlana Drive on the mainland.”
Ekpenyong had earlier sent two petitions to the commission against the former governor.
The first was dated June 8 while the second one was dated June 22.
The petitioner told our correspondent on Wednesday that he had appeared thrice before the commission’s investigators to “adopt the petitions.”
He said on the three occasions that “I backed up the petitions with oral testimonies and explained to the investigators that I was ready to testify against the former governor.”
Spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwajuren, told our correspondent that he did not know if the commission had received the latest petition.
He said, “Several petitions are sent to the commission on a daily basis and none of the petitions is sub-item in my office.
“Because of this, I might not know the details of the petition. That’s the situation. “
The former governor could not be reached for his reaction as of time of going to press.
Calls made to his telephone line indicated that it was switched off, while a text message sent to him was not delivered.
The immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is not happy with the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for attending a summer convention in the United States organised by Akwa Ibom Indigenes abroad.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
A former aide of Akpabio , who does not want to be named, told our correspondent in Uyo, on Tuesday, that the former governor had advised Emmanuel not to embark on the journey because the trip was unnecessary, considering the cost it involved.
He maintained that Akpabio had asked Emmanuel to avoid spending money on things that would not generate revenue for the state, but should focus on attracting investors into the state.
According to him, since Emmanuel had assumed office as Akwa Ibom State governor, the Akwa Ibom people have not felt the impact of his administration.
He noted that since Emmanuel took over from Akpabio as governor 66 days ago, the state has not witnessed any significant progress.
He revealed that Emmanuel left Akwa Ibom with a delegation of over 60 persons. They would spend two weeks in the US.
He added that Akpabio considered the trip unnecessary. He said it would not add value to Akwa Ibom people at home.
The convener, Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, said Emmanuel learnt his wasteful attitude from Akpabio. He added that few weeks ago, Emmanuel was spotted at the Ibom International Airport on a chartered jet.
He said, “I can tell you, Emmanuel is very wasteful. The other day, he was seen at the Ibom International Airport on a chartered flight. Why has the governor chosen to go on a chartered flight when the economy of the country is wobbling? This does not make sense.
“He (Emmanuel) learnt his wasteful attitude from his master, Senator Godswill Akpabio. The trip is a way of siphoning money from the state; it is purely based on self-interest. We hope the whole thing will soon be over. We don’t have a governor yet,” he said.
But in a swift reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ekerette Udoh, who is also in the US, said Emmanuel was not only the governor of those that reside in Akwa Ibom State but a governor of the Akwa Ibom people, irrespective of where they live.
He stated that the summer convention was an important occasion as it attracted many governors from the country.
He noted that Emmanuel did not embark on the trip for selfish reasons, but to woo industrialists to the state.
He said, “The Akwa Ibom State governor is the governor of all Akwa Ibom people wherever they may be in the world. He has a right to tell them his programmes for the state.
“The summer convention is a very important occasion. Emmanuel is there to attract investors to the state. Many other governors in the Nigeria are also in the United States for the same reason.”
A former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has been named the Senate Minority Leader.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
Mr. Akpabio was nominated by the south south caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The party lost the majority to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the last election.
Phillip Aduda, who represents the Federal Capital Territory, was named Minority Whip, while Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba State, emerged Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr. Akpabio’s nomination violates the standing rules of the senate, which reserves principal leadership positions for only ranking senators.
A former chairman of the PDP governors’ forum in the last administration, Mr. Akpabio was favoured to win the slot after receiving wide support from colleague lawmakers and his party.
Last week, a federal court rejected an application seeking to stop him from being named minority leader.
Two PDP senators had gone to court to challenge the move.
At the senate’s resumed session Tuesday, lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on the president of the senate, Bukola Saraki, and the deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
They also adopted a motion urging security agencies to stop harassing senators and their families.
Mr. Saraki’s wife, Toyin, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on allegations of corruption.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja has refused an ex-parte application to restrain the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and 17 others from departing from the Senate’s standing rules governing the appointment of Minority Leader for the eighth National Assembly.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alaye Don Pedro (Ward 8 Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State) and Okechukwu Ibeh of Umukegwu/Umuopia in Ide Ato Local Government Area, Imo State, had in an ex-parte motion, sought to restrain Saraki and 17 members of the PDP South -south Senate Caucus from choosing the minority leader outside the provision of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).
The plaintiffs through their lawyer, Mr. Bankole Akomolafe had argued that the alleged plot by some individuals to make former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godwill Akpabio (a first term Senator) the Senate’s Minority leader, was in violation of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).
Named with Saraki as respondents, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/602/2005, are Akpabio, Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Owan Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager, Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Mathew Urhoghide, George Thomson Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu.
Ruling yesterday, Justice Kolawole refused the plaintiffs’ prayer for “an order restraining the 2nd to 18 respondents from selecting or appointing the Minority Leader of the Senate by a procedure in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
The judge also refused their request for an “order prohibiting the 1st respondent from accepting, recognising, announcing or giving effect to the appointment of a Minority Leader of the Senate, whose appointment is in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
Justice Kolawole, who noted that the plaintiffs were neither members of the Senate nor contestants for the position of Minority Leader, said he could not grant their prayers because they failed to establish the interest they sought to protect.
He said their being members of the PDP from Imo and Rivers States were not sufficient to warrant the grant of their prayers.
The judge also refused the plaintiffs’ request for the abridgement of time within which the respondents could file their responses to the substantive suit.
He also declined to grant accelerated hearing of the main suit. Justice Kolawole however, granted the plaintiffs’ prayer for substituted service of court documents (processes) in relation to the suit through substituted means by media publication.
He directed that the processes be published with an enrolled copy of his orders.
The judge who is sitting as a vacation judge, adjourned the case to October 5 for mention, but said the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for re-assignment when the court resumes from its vacation.
Strong indications emerged on Friday that a former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, may emerge as the Senate Minority Leader when the upper chamber resumes on July 21. Akpabio is a first time senator.
A senator, who disclosed the development to our correspondent in Abuja, said Akpabio started making the move immediately after the announcement of the Peoples Democratic Party’s zoning arrangement this week.
According to him, two ranking senators, James Manager (Delta State) and Thompson Sekibo (Rivers State) had expressed their intention to contest and had emerged as possible contenders.
Manager is a fourth time member of the red chamber, while Sekibo is on his third term.
Close watchers of developments in the senate had believed that Manager would automatically become the minority leader following the decision of former Senate President, David Mark, to decline interest in the position.
However, Akpabio showed interest in the race last week and was said to have contacted the incumbent Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to prevail on the 17 senators of the South-South to support him.
The senator representing Akwa Ibom Southwest and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one other have lost their bid to stall proceedings at the state’s Legislative Election Tribunal.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
The Justice Goddy Anunihun led tribunal, in a ruling yesterday, refused the prayer by Akpabio, his party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for an indefinite adjournment of all the tribunal’s activities pending its ruling on an earlier application challenging its sitting in Abuja.
The tribunal had adjourned to yesterday for ruling on the application by Akpabio, challenging the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja and the commencement of pre-trial proceedings in the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate Inibehe Okori who contested against Akpabio.
Yesterday, Justice Anunihun announced that the ruling was not ready, but sought to proceed with the other business scheduled for the day, a decision Akpabio’s lawyer, Offiong Offiong (SAN), PDP’s lawyer, Adekunle Oyesanya (SAN) and T. Nweke (for INEC) objected to.
The judge gave two reasons why the ruling could not be read. He said it was not yet written and that the tribunal would await the decision of the Court of Appeal in a similar case.
“The tribunal is yet to conclude work on the ruling. It is the tribunal’s position to await the Court of Appeal’s decision in a case referred to it from the Federal High Court for the determination of similar issue.
“The need to defer the ruling is to avoid conflicting rulings on the same issue by different courts of coordinate jurisdiction.”
All parties in the case agreed that the tribunal reserved the right to decide when to deliver its ruling, but with petitioners’ lawyer, Solomon Umoh urged the tribunal to begin the pre-trial proceedings, while the respondents’ lawyers urged the court to stay further proceedings until its ruling was ready.
Offiong argued that the tribunal could not proceed to conduct any business while it was yet to rule on the application challenging it’s jurisdiction. He said since the court was yet to decide the issue of whether or not it was right for it to sit in Abuja, it could not take any further steps in relation to the petition.
“It is a fundamental principle of our jurisprudence that once an issue of jurisdiction is raised, it must be treated first and promptly. The tribunal should adjourn the matter until ruling is delivered on the objection on jurisdiction,” Offiong said.
He argued that since the case referred to the Court of Appeal was not an electoral matter, the appellate court’s decision might not be binding on the tribunal.
Nweke and Oyesanya agreed with Offiong and urged the court to defer further activities in the case till the tribunal was ready with its ruling.
Responding on point of law, Assam Assam (SAN), who took over from Umoh referred the tribunal to Paragraph 25(1) of the First Schedule of the Constitution, which requires a tribunal to hear election cases on a daily basis.
He urged the tribunal to note that similar applications were pending before other tribunals transferred to Abuja, but that although the tribunals have ruled on the application challenging their jurisdiction, they have proceeded to conduct pre-trial proceedings.
“Similar situation exist in other tribunals that were transferred to Abuja. While they are yet to rule on this issue of jurisdiction, they have all proceeded to conduct pre-trial proceedings. One has even given a judgment in favour of the respondents,” Assam said.
Justice Anunihun said while the tribunal would awaits the decision of the Court of Appeal which will help it in deciding the pending application relating to its jurisdiction, it will proceed with pre-trial proceedings.
He said the pre-trial proceeding would be conducted here in Abuja as the application was earlier heard here since the proceedings will not affect the main petition. He also noted that time was of the essence in election cases.
Justice Anunihun adjourned to July 14 for the commencement of the pre-trial proceedings.
Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State and his predecessor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on Saturday paid a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The duo arrived at Obasanjo’s residence at about 2:48 pm in company with a former prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, and some other state officials.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
The team immediately proceeded into a closed-door meeting which ended at about 4.05 pm.
Udom, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said he was in Abeokuta to pay homage and to thank Obasanjo.
According to him, he consulted with Obasanjo shortly before the general elections and that his advice paid off.
“I have come to show gratitude and respect for someone whom I regard as a father and whose advice I regard as invaluable and which also contributed to my victory at the polls,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that his predecessor had laid a solid foundation upon which he would build and move the state to greater heights.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party remained the greatest party in Africa and would provide a credible and formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress in order to move the nation forward.
Akpabio, who also addressed newsmen, declared support for a reduction in the cost of governance in Nigeria.
Some Peoples Democratic Party Governors-elect on Tuesday night attended a meeting held by some of their All Progressives Congress counterparts rooting for the emergence of former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio
The PUNCH learnt that the meeting which held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja had 65 senators-elect in attendance.
A source who attended the meeting listed Godswill Akpabio, Theodore Orji and Sam Egwu among the PDP senators-elect that were in attendance.
Our source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said some of the PDP senators-elect were backing Saraki because it appeared that the APC leaders were in support of Ahmad Lawan.
The source said, “For now, the PDP has not endorsed any candidate but some of us are in support of Saraki because the APC leaders appear to be supporting Lawan.”
A senator-elect from Kogi State, Dino Melaye, confirmed to journalists on Wednesday that some PDP senators-elect attended the meeting by Saraki supporters.
Melaye said that the PDP and the APC senators had already confirmed their endorsement of Saraki.
According to him, the meeting was attended by many PDP and APC Senators, including Sabo Nakudu, Mohammed Gobil, Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Binta Garba, Ubah, Shehu Sani and Aliyu Wamakko,
He said, “The meeting was a mixture of PDP and APC senators. Forty APC and 25 PDP senators were in attendance. We resolved that we have to produce a senator that is made by senators. Eighty per cent of senators from Lawan’s North-East attended the meeting and endorsed Saraki.”
But a senator elect, who claimed to be a member of the Lawan Camp faulted the claim that most of the PDP senators-elect had endorsed Saraki.
The senator-elect, who did not want his name in print, added that some PDP senators -elect were also working for Lawan.
“We want to elect our own leaders in the 8th senate but the party, too, will have an input but it is important to elect someone with integrity, experience and a transparent attitude,” he said.
Besides the North-West, the South-West Caucus of the party had also endorsed Lawan.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, had in an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, assured the leadership of the APC that the recent endorsement of Lawan would not cause any rancour among the lawmakers from the South-West.
Besides Saraki (North-Central) and Lawan (North-East), George Akume (Benue) is also contesting the senate presidency.
The APC has yet to zone the position and others, including the speakership of the House of Representatives.
But it was gathered that some members of the APC caucus in the North-West, who were earlier reported to have endorsed Lawan had started supporting Saraki.
In the PDP, among those supporting Lawan, are loyalists of the Senate President, David Mark.
Attempts to speak with Saraki on the issue were futile .
The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that his principal had not endorsed any aspirant for the senate presidency.
“The senate president is not a member of the APC and he doesn’t attend their meetings,” he said in a telephone interview.
