The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • ‘Nigeria still very corrupt despite Buhari’s anti-corruption war’

    Despite the anti-corruption posture of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Nigeria is still perceived as an extremely corrupt country, the Uyo Zonal Head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Abdulkarim Chukkul has said.

    Chukkul, who made this known Monday at the commission’s office during a press briefing in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, said the 2017 corruption perception index scored the country low when compared with the 2016 perception report.

    Read Also:Vote buying a threat to Nigeria’s democracy – Saraki, Dogara

    “Despite the frantic efforts by the government to tackle corruption, the 2017 corruption perception scored Nigeria low compare with the 2016 perception report. Nigeria slipped in the country-ranking by 12 position in 2017, which shows that Nigeria is still perceived as
    extremely corrupt “, he said.

    He expressed frustration over the National Assembly’s refusal to pass into law some major bills presented to it by the agency, saying that the situation has stifled the commission’s mandate of tackling corruption.

    “Beneficial ownership register is nowhere near completion and crucial asset recovery legislation such as the proceeds of Crime Bill has been stalled in the National Assembly.

    “The pledge to work towards full implementation of the Open Contracting Data Standard has not resulted in tangible actions and the much needed public procurement reform is stalled as key appointments for National Procurement Council (NPC) have not commenced, ” he said.

    Chukkul said that, at the state level, lack of procurement law has resulted in shady contracting leading to non-implementation of projects and outright abandoning of even the ones initiated, he also said that the increasing level of abandon projects across Nigeria has made the citizens not to benefit from the trillions of naira budgeted yearly for development.

    “According to the findings of our monitoring activities, 70 percent of government projects are abandoned. This is the evident as the number of abandoned projects scattering across the state. The increasing level of abandon projects across Nigeria has deprived the citizens the benefit of the trillions of naira budgeted yearly for development

    “While the citizens are deprived the benefit of governance, some few persons who are politically exposed see the opportunity of budget implementation to drain the nation of its resources,” he added.

  • EFCC receives 75 petitions in Gombe in one year

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has received 75 petitions in the last one year in Gombe State, under its North East zonal office.

    Head of Operations in the zone, Mr Friday Ebelo disclosed this on Monday at the occasion of the road walk against corruption commemorating the 2018 World Anti-Corruption Day in Gombe.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s event is “Say No to Corruption, Every No Counts’’.

    Ebelo said out of the 75 petitions, 45 had been charged to court while 26 convictions were secured and others being investigated.

    “So far in Gombe, we have received 75 petitions in 2018, 45 of them charged to court and 26 convictions secured,’’ he said.

    He also urged Nigerians to vote credible people in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    He said voting credible leaders would end vote-buying and help sustain ongoing fight against corruption.

    “As you all are aware, 2019 election is approaching, we must vote credible people into offices to strengthen the current fight against corruption in the country.

    “Bring in people with reputable characters into offices, so that when they come in they will not take our fight against corruption backwards.

    Read Also: Man ‘stabs’ co-tenant with broken bottle

    “We must say no to vote-buying and be steadfast in bringing people that think of Nigerians and put the country first in all their activities into offices.

    “Corruption affects the poor more in our society and that is why we all must fight it for the common good of all.

    “For Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy, we must support the government in the fight against corruption by reporting suspected cases.

    Malam Umar Gurama, former Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Ministry of Health applauded the current administration’s fight against corruption.

    He said the recent award given to the EFCC boss, Mr Ibrahim Magu was well-deserved.

    Gurama said corruption was thriving in the country because of loss of the value system and decay of institutions of government especially at the local government level.

    He also called on the traditional institutions to assist government in the fight against corruption at the grassroots.

    NAN

  • EFCC charges NBA President with N1.4bn fraud

    …To arraign Paul Usoro SAN on Dec 10

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a N1.4billion fraud charge against the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Justice Muslim Hassan fixed December 10, 2018 for the EFCC to arraign Usoro.

    The anti-graft agency, in a charge marked FHC/418c/18, alleged that Usoro, from Akwa Ibom, converted and laundered the money in connivance with the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

    Read Also:Judge gives EFCC, DSS others 72hrs to arrest ex-Petroleum minister

    The charge sheet, signed by EFCC Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, did not list Emmanuel as a defendant.

    The EFCC indicated that he is “currently constitutionally immuned against criminal prosecution”.

    It did, however, mention four other defendants.

    They are: Nsikan Nkan, described as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; Mfon Udomah, described as the Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom State; Uwemedimo Nwoko, described as the Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; and Margaret Ukpe, all of whom are said to be at large.

    The commission alleged that Usoro, in connivance with the others mentioned, conspired to commit the offence “sometime in 2015 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court”.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.4bn belonged to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

    According to Oyedepo, the offences were contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

  • Recovered N3b: I’ve no case to answer, ex-NNPC boss, Yakubu tells court

    …Court to hear no-case submission, Jan 17

     

    Former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu has said he has no case to answer in relation to his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Yakubu is being tried on a six-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which he is charged with failure to declare assets and money laundering.

    Read Also:NNPC loses over $800m revenue to contract breaches

    The EFCC had, on February 3, 2017 raided Yakubu’s house, located on Chikun Road, Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, from where it claimed to have recovered $9,772, 800 USD and £74,000.00, a recovery which informed the charge.

    It is the ex-NNPC’s contention, in the no-case submission he filed on November 6 this year, that he has no case to answer.

    Yakubu argued that the essential elements of the charge brought against him, was not proved by the prosecution to warrant his being called to enter defence.

    According to the defendant, the evidence led by the prosecution’s seven witnesses did not establish a case against him to require him to defend himself.

    He is praying the court to strike out the charge and discharge and acquit him.

    Prosecuting lawyer, Ben Ikani announced the closure of the prosecution’s case on October 17 this year, at the conclusion of the testimony by Suleiman Mohammed, an official of the EFCC (who testified as  7th prosecution witness), following which the court adjourned to December 5 for the defence to open its case.

    In his testimony, Mohammed explained how a team of EFCC’s investigators, which he was a member, recovered the money, estimated at N3 billion, which comprised of  $9.7 million and ?£74,000.

    Led in evidence by Ikani, Mohammed said the money was hidden in a fireproof safe, allegedly belonging to Yakubu. The huge safe has since been tendered in evidence in the proceedings.

    The prosecution’s 7th witness said the recovery process and the counting of the money were recorded and saved in a 32-gigabyte memory card and in another two mini disks, which were admitted as exhibits by the court on October 17 this year.

    Yesterday, Ikani was absent in court. There was no reason why he was not in court.

    Defence lawyer, Anone Usman told the court that the case was adjourned to December 5 for the defence to open its case.

    Usman said, upon the closure of the prosecution’s case, the defence filed a no-case submission on behalf of the defendant, as provided under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    He said the no-case submission was filed on November 6, 2018 and served on the prosecution on the same date.

    Usman later applied for a date for parties to adopt the processes in respect of the no-case submission.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned to January 17 next year for adoption of written addresses on the no-case submission.

    Justice Mohammed also directed that hearing notice be issued on the prosecution.

  • Court reserves judgment on admissibility of evidence against Jang

    Justice Daniel Longji of the Plateau State High Court on Tuesday reserved ruling on the admissibility or otherwise of a Zenith Bank statement in court in the ongoing trial of former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang.

    The former Governor is standing trial in a 12-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly misappropriating over N6.3billion two months to the end of his tenure as governor in 2015.

    Read Also:Jang congratulates Atiku, pledges total support

    At the resumed hearing of the case in Jos on Tuesday, Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs SAN had sought to tender a Zenith Bank Statement before the court through its Prosecution Witness Mr. Emmanuel Kapanjang which was objected to by the Defense Counsel, Mr Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

    In his submission, the EFCC Counsel urged the court to admit the Bank statement as evidence arguing that the witness who is a Senior Assistant Manager with Zenith Bank, was in a position to testify on its content, having managed the Account of the Second Accused person, Mr Yusuf Pam, a former Cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government during Jang’s administration

    But the Defense Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN who  cited several legal documents in his objection, questioned the whereabouts of the signatories  to the Bank Statement arguing that it was wrong for the Prosecution Counsel to seek to tender  a document through a witness who was neither a party to it nor did he know the content of the document .

    “My Lord, although the document appears to be the original, there is no foundation for the Prosecution Counsel to seek to tender it through the witness whose name is not on it neither does he know the content. This is a direct assault on Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act. I therefore urge the court to reject the document in its entirety”

    After taking arguments from both Counsels, Justice Longji said ruling on the matter is reserved till Wednesday, 5th December, 2018.

  • EFCC arraigns two oil marketers, international company

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, arraigned two oil marketers, Yusuf Kwande and Osahon Asemota in an Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly stealing 6.4 million metrics tonnes of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) worth $8.4million.

    Kwande and Asemota were arraigned alongside an international oil and gas company – Trafigura Beheer BV, Trafigura PTE Ltd and their Nigerian associates- Mettle Energy and Gas, Renbrandt Ltd. and Jil Engineering and Oil Services Limited.

    They however plead not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property proffered against them by the EFCC.

    The EFCC, accused the defendants of fraudulently converting the AGO at the office of Trafigura Beheer BV located at 20A Sinaro Daranijo Street, off Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    According to Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),  the lead EFCC prosecution counsel the defendants committed the offences of stealing from Oct. 22, 2008 to Dec. 15, 2008

    Jacobs said the stolen AGO worth $8.4million, was the property of Nadabo Energy Limited and was kept in the legal custody of the now defunct Spring Bank on Victoria Island.

    He noted that the offences contravened Sections 383(1), 427 and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of 2004.

    Following the defendant’s not guilty plea counsels to the defendants sought to move their bail applications but Jacobs informed the court that three of the prosecution witnesses were present in court requested that the trial begin immediately.

    Mr Emefun Etudo, the first prosecution witness and a former lawyer to Asemota and his companies explained to the court how the defendants connived to defraud Nadabo.

    He said: “Nadabo Energy is a contractor to Mobil and it was given a purchase order to supply 10,000 metrics tonnes of AGO to Mobil in 2008. Nadabo was given about $15million by Spring Bank via a letter of offer dated Feb. 29, 2008, to effect this transaction.

    “At that time, Nadabo had license to import only 4,000 metrics tonnes and could not import this transaction with the license so Nadabo called the sixth defendant ( Asemota), a veteran in the industry to assist him because he has a tank farm at Apapa as well as a license.

    “They entered into an agreement dated March 31, 2008, and part of the agreement stated that the supply shall be made on behalf of Nadabo and all finances for the execution of the agreement shall be transferred by Nadabo to the agent.

    “Nadabo transferred the money in obedience to the agreement he had with the seventh defendant (Jil engineering and oil service limited). The transfer was made both in naira and dollars.”

    Etudo said that the defendants never had an agreement to tamper with the complainant’s cargo and that the complainant always followed the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the parties to the agreement.

    Read Also: EFCC traces N500m assets to Jang

    Etudo further revealed to the court how the defendants defrauded Nadabo Energy, leading to the collapse of the now defunct Spring Bank.

    “There was a twist after money was transferred to Trafigura abroad. Mettle Energy and Gas, Renbrandt Limited and Osahon Asemota informed Nadabo that Mobil rejected the supply, they further told Nadabo that Mobil accepted 3,000 out of the 10,000 metrics tonnes.

    “The bank and Nadabo believed this and that was what we were made to believe until a case came up at Justice Ogunsanya’s court and it was revealed that the supply was not rejected by Mobil but was stolen by the defendants and sold to who they want and shared the money.

    “Out of this disaster, the bank (Spring Bank) went down, EFCC was our first place of action and Trafigura was invited in a petition but the person that responded was Yusuf Kwande and he made statement to the EFCC.

    “The account officer of Asemota and Jil Engineering and Oil Service Ltd at Spring Bank was also invited and he made statement,” he said

    The lawyer said that Mobil never rejected 7,000 metric tonnes of AGO as alleged by the defendants.

    Etudo noted that following the revelation, he personally investigated the claims of the defendants and unravelled more details about the alleged fraud.

    “I investigated all the vessels that took part in the operation in 2008, the first and most important vessel is the one that took cargo from Cotonou to Eket.

    “I discovered that the capacity of the vessel is 7,000 metric tonnes, I investigated another vessel owned by the sixth defendant and I discovered that the vessel is a slug vessel which is not supposed to be used to carry cargo.

    “I saw that the two cargos never went to Mobil depot in Eket, Asemota intercepted the vessel and collected 3,000 metrics tonnes from the vessel,” he said.

    Following the testimony of the witness, Kwande’s defence counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) urged the court to grant him bail in most liberal terms.

    Obliging the SAN’s request, Justice Mojisola Dada, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N2million with two substantial sureties in like sum.

    She ordered that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner who must submit their title documents to the court adding that the defendant should deposit his international passport to the prosecution (EFCC).

    Justice Dada also released Kwande into the custody of Osipitan his counsel pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

    Justice Dada, however rejected the bail application of Mr Osahon Idemude, counsel to Asemota on the ground that the defendant had on previous occasions failed to submit himself to the court willingly for arraignment.

    She ordered that Asemota be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until Dec 10,11 and 13 for continuation of trial.

     

    (NAN)

  • EFCC arraigns businessman for providing false information

    A businessman, Rashid Huthman, who the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused of providing false information to an official of the commission on Wednesday appeared in an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos.

    The EFCC charged Huthman alongside his company, Complete Leisure Estate Ltd with making false information to a public official.

    The EFCC counsel,  Mr Nkereuwem Anana, alleged that the accused committed the offence between June 22, 2016 and Feb. 15, 2017 in Lagos.

    “The defendant knowingly provided false information to Mr Dan Azibagiri, an EFCC officer in the course of duty.

    “Huthman falsely stated that Alhaji Oyebanji Oreagba, a former Director of Lands in Lagos State and the Director of Salgons Beverage Ventures Ltd forged the signature of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    Read Also: N23b bribe: EFCC clears 15 INEC officials

    “The defendant claimed Oreagba forged Prof. Osinbajo’s signature who was the then Attorney-General of Lagos to deprive him (Huthman) of his land,” Anana said.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provision of Section 96 (a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    Following Huthman’s plea of not guilty, his defence counsel, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), prayed the court to grant his client bail on the most liberal terms.

    Obliging the request of the defence counsel, Justice Mojisola Dada granted Huthman bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Justice Dada ordered that the defendant should perfect his bail in two weeks else, the bail will be revoked and he will be remanded in prison custody.

    The case was adjourned until Dec. 11 at noon for trial.

    NAN

  • Confirmation of EFCC scribe suffers setback in Senate

    The Senate Tuesday differed the confirmation of Olanipekun Olukoyede, as the secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Olukoyede, who hails from Ekiti State, is the Chief of Staff to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, dated September 10, 2018 nominated him as secretary to the Commission.

    Saraki who read the letter in plenary on October 3, 2018, referred it to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, to screen the nominee and report back to the chamber.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) presented the report his committee to the chamber yesterday.

    Utazi told the upper chamber that Olukoyede satisfied the committee expectations and answered all questions posed to him by committee members.

    The Enugu North Senator told his colleagues that the nominee demonstrated competence and sufficient experience to occupy the office for which he was nominated.

    He noted that the committee, having found the nominee qualified and worthy of the office, recommended that he be confirmed as requested by President Buhari

    Utazi said: “The nominee appeared before the Committee on Wednesday October 24, 2018. The members subjected to scrutiny the curriculum vitae of the nominee and other relevant documents relating to his background and educational qualifications and the work experience of the nominee.

    “The Committee found that Olanipekun Olukoyede is a trained lawyer. He gave in-depth responses to the questions asked by the members which we believe will add value to policy formulation and implementation in the EFCC.

    “The Committee is satisfied that the nominee has the requisite experience, integrity, professional competence and industry to discharge the functions of the position in which he is nominated.

    “The Committee also noted that there was no adverse security report against the nominee and the scrutiny carried out on the nominee shows that the nominee possesses the necessary academic and administrative experience for the position.

    “The Committee therefore, recommended that the Senate should confirm the appointment of Olukoyede to the office of the Secretary of EFCC”.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South) in his contribution observed that only few members of the Committee signed the report of the screening.

    Manager said that since the nominee satisfied the requisite experience and professional requirement, he should be confirmed.

    “I observe that only few signatures appeared on the signature column. However, going through what the Chairman of the Committee has presented, and knowing full well that this is not very normal time for the Senate, it will not be easy for a chairman of a Committee to have all the members to attend but however, from the number that appeared am sure that they formed quorum.

    “From the report of the Committee, since the nominee has the requisite experience and professional competence, that is what we are looking for in a nominee for the kind of office that we screen him for, I therefore, suggest that any other thing can be ignored so that we confirm the nominee,” Manager said.

    On the issue of low turn-out by members of the Committee during the screening, Utazi explained that some of the senators were out of Abuja on oversight functions while others were engaged on electioneering activities.

    He confirmed that the committee formed quorum during the sitting where the nominee was screened.

    A member of the Committee, Senator Isa Misau (Bauchi Central), opposed the confirmation of the nominee vehemently.

    Misau said that most members of the Committee were not carried along in the screening exercise.

    The Central Senator said that observed during the screening that some of the nominees were not competent to hold the offices for which they were nominated.

    He wondered why only three senators signed the signature page of the Committee report.

    Misau asked the Senate to suspend the confirmation of the nominee so as to allow members of the Committee to meet and further deliberate on the report before the Senate could adopt it.

    He said, “I observed that only three members out of eight members signed the signature page. What I want is that this report should be stepped down so that we the members of the Committee can go through it because I participated actively in the screening of the nominees.

    “There are some of them that are not competent to hold the offices for which they were nominated. I did not sign the report because I am just seeing this report now. It has not been sent to my office. Nobody invited me to come and deliberate on this report and I was part of the screening.

    “And during the screening, I made objection on certain people who are not supposed to hold the office. So, the members of the Committee should study it and not just the Clerk of the Committee to write report and come and submit to the Senate in plenary.”

    Saraki in his ruling asked the Committee Chairman to meet with other members to discuss the report to avoid divergent positions on the confirmation of the nominee.

    Utazi explained that he invited all members to the screening of the nominee but only a few of them attended.

    Saraki ruled that members of the committee should meet and present their report today.

  • I leave Fayose to God, Says Fayemi 

    ….Says only EFCC, others can probe him

     

    The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Monday said that he is not interested in probing his predecessor, Ayodele Fayose and that he has left him in the hands God.

    According to him, it is left for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other related bodies to carry out the probe.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said that he is only looking at the books.

    Read Also:Fayose’s trial: we moved N1.2b cash in three planes, says witness

    He said “Well, I am sure I have never said anything about probe; I only gave hints that I would look into the books prior to my swearing in.

    “Looking into books or account is the duty of any new governor; you need to know what you found on ground; I just talked about visitation panel into the education sector and institutions in the state.

    “There are other sectors in the state; and it will be good for me not to check what we found when we came into office and share that with the citizens of the state.

    “It is just accountability not probe. I am not EFCC; I am not ICPC; there are institutions that are charged with the responsibility to do that and it is entirely up to them if they want to probe the governor or not.

    “It is not my business; I leave the governor to God; I have said that before.’’ he added

    Fayose is being prosecuted by EFCC over 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.

    Fayemi also said that his administration is taking steps that will lead to an increase in school enrollment in all parts of the state.

    According to him, the state government had since introduced free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels, to encourage school attendance.

    “One of the very first things we are doing to increase enrollment is to make sure that all fees and levies that were put on the primary and secondary sector are removed. We have returned free education, compulsory and qualitative education to our basic education sector,” he stated.

    He said the steps taken are aimed at restoring the state to its leading position in education in Nigeria.

    The education sector in Ekiti State, he said, has suffered some setbacks in recent time and the State government is doing its best to return the lost glory.

    The Governor however expressed regret that school enrollment has dropped and his administration is working hard to unravel the cause.

    “We do have a tradition of being the intellectual capital of this country but we seem to have lost that edge lately so we are doing what we can to reposition the sector particularly the basic and tertiary sectors.

    “On the tertiary sector we have set up visitation panels in all of the tertiary institutions, to review and  recommend what the critical and challenging issues are and how government should respond to the yearnings of this sector and in the basic education site, we are working hard to encourage enrollment into primary and secondary schools,” he said.

    He went on “We are doing all that we can to encourage more students to come into schools, so we are starting the school feeding programme in Ekiti State in order to ensure that students and kids that are not opportune to be in school are in school.

    “We are also ensuring that we pay salaries regularly because you cannot expect parents who have not received salaries and wages for 6-10 months on one hand and their children are been asked to pay education levy on the other hand to have the capacity to send such children to school and we need to make sure that education, which we see in our party as a right not a privilege should be free at least at the basic level is free,” he said

     

  • PDP accuses FG , APC of using force to capture A’Ibom

    The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Akwa Ibom has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government of using intimidation to capture the state for the ruling party.

    In a press conference Thursday night, the state chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo said the party has uncovered plan by the FG to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to haunt state government officials, as a prelude to freezing the accounts of the state.

    Ekpo said the siege on the State House of Assembly by the police and the frequent change of commissioners of police was parts of plots to capture the state by force.

    He said the impression that APC was trying to make the state ungovernable so that a state emergency would be declared ahead of next year’s general election.

    The PDP boss, however, said the party would not be intimidated by the actions of the federal government.

    Ekpo said the invasion of the state house of assembly by the five sacked APC lawmakers was done in bad faith as there was no stay of execution by any court stopping the Speaker from declaring their seats vacant.

    “The invasion of the house of assembly with thugs by Mr. Idongesit Ituen, one of the sacked lawmaker representing Itu state constituency was done in bad faith as there was no stay of execution issued by any court of law against the speaker in respect of Ituen’s case”, he said.

    He argued that the schemes of APC were to bring Governor Udom Emmanuel in a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The People’s Democratic Party has invited you this evening to alert Nigerians, international communities, and indeed the whole world of attempts by the All Progressives Congress in collusion with security agencies to make the state ungovernable and possibly declare a state
    of emergency to pave way for easy manipulations of elections results in 2019.

    “It is pertinent to note that we have uncovered a fresh plot by the APC to use the EFCC to clamp down on Akwa Ibom State government accounts. This is another desperate attempt by the APC to paralyse the activities of the government of Akwa Ibom State.

    “In view of the foregoing, we make this extant demand: that the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, should as a matter of urgency, cause the troops laying siege at the premise of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to vacate with immediate effect and cease forthwith, further intimidation of officials of Akwa Ibom government and principal officers of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly,” he said.