EFCC Re-Arrest Godswill Akpabio

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A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has
returned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for
more questioning after he was allowed to go home Friday night.

Mr. Akpabio, who is also the incumbent minority leader of the Senate,
arrived the EFCC at 11.45 am Saturday, accompanied by his counsel
and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Rikey Tarfa and some aides.
As soon as the former governor arrived at the commission, he was
moved into the interrogation room, a source who pleaded not to be
named because he is not authorised to speak on the issue, told
PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Rickey Tarfa and aides to the former governor watched helplessly
as the anti-graft operatives led Mr. Akpabio away.
Our source also hinted that the former governor might spend the day
with the commission.
He is still been interrogated by crack detectives of the commission as
at the time of filling this report.
Mr. Akpabio was arrested by the anti-graft agency on Friday afternoon
and taken in for interrogation.
He was, however, allowed to go home late in the night but asked to
report to the commission today (Saturday).
Shortly after he regained his freedom, Mr. Akpabio had given insight
into why he was interrogated for several hours by EFCC operatives.
Speaking with a PREMIUM TIMES reporter shortly after he left the
EFCC headquarters late on Friday night, Mr. Akpabio admitted that he
was summoned by the anti-graft body to respond to several
allegations of corruption against him.
He however said he was not arrested, but that he honoured the
commission’s invitation voluntarily.
“A young lawyer from my state has been petitioning the EFCC
accusing me of corruption,” the former governor said. “So shortly
before I got involved in an accident in August, the EFCC summoned
me to come and respond to the allegations.
“But following the accident, I wasn’t well enough to honour the EFCC
summon. And I let them know.
“So today, since I’m now well, and the Senate did not sit, I decided to
honour the EFCC so as to answer questions concerning the allegations
against me.
“I wasn’t arrested. I walked in there myself and now I’m back at
home. The EFCC operatives were professional. They asked questions,
and I answered.”
Mr. Akpabio insisted the allegations against him were false, saying
“those making the allegations do not understand how government
works”.
The former governor, who is now Senate Minority Leader, said the
lawyer who dragged him to the EFCC submitted at least four different
petitions, and that it would take a while for him to respond to each of
the allegations.
“So I will return to the EFCC again as necessary,” he said.
Mr. Akpabio added, “I am a law-abiding citizen, and whenever I’m
summoned to answer questions about how I served my people, I will
always respond.
“I urge everyone who has served in public office not to be afraid to
explain what they did and how they served.”

SOURCE:PREMIUMTIMES

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