The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has clarified that at no stage was he arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for attempting to bribe the bureau’s boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa with an amount of $350,000.
Ekong clarified that Akpabio on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, had an audience with the new Chairman of the EFCC by Noon to discuss the transfer of funds belonging to the NDDC in regard to their 3% statutory remittances from Gas and Oil businesses in the custody of the EFCC and other 3 per cent levies due to the Commission still being owed by a few Oil and Gas businesses.
Remember that President Muhammadu Buhari had since December 2020 accepted the transfer of monies earlier paid by International Oil Firms into the CBN/EFCC accounts which should later be moved into the CBN/NDDC account.
He said the assembly wasn’t concluded because Senator Akpabio needed a security meeting with select South-South/South-East leaders and leaders at the office of the National Security Adviser early scheduled for 1.30 pm of the identical day.
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He further said that the EFCC boss reluctantly rescheduled the period of this interview the same day in which Akpabio later in the afternoon had a strong interaction with the Senator about the aforementioned dilemma as well the methodology about how to succeed in the continuing forensic audit of the commission.
He advocated members of the public ignore the report describing it as blackmail from detractors that are disappointed with the degree of progress made in the continuing Forensic Audit of the NDDC.
The announcement also noted that the minister had at no stage bribed the Attorney-General of their Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN using a sum of 5 million as alleged for Mr. Effiong Akwa raised to the position of this Interim Administrator of the NDDC.
“There was no problem of detention and Senator Akpabio could not have taken $350,000 to the office of the Chairman of the EFCC because he went without a bag or even a container”
The Honourable Minister sought the cooperation of the EFCC to actualize recoveries of additional 3% levies because of the Commission still being owed by a few Oil and Gas Firms and me
