Mr Ani Esin, an aide to the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has denied the allegation that he misappropriated campaign funds ahead of the just-concluded general elections.

Esin spoke with journalists after a thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church, Duke Town Parish, Calabar, the state capital, on Sunday.

“I never took elections money and there was no elections money.

“Monies were meant for general elections and I believe they were disbursed for that purpose,” he said.

Esin also spoke on the March 12 assassination attempt on him.

He described it as a fall-out of the last elections.

“The government is very serious about security. We know that the attempt was a fallout of the elections.

“Now that the elections are over, everyone will go back to the basics  and things will be put in place to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum in the state,” he said.

Earlier in his sermon, the officiating minister, Rev Nseobong Ukpuho, admonished Christians to use the Easter period to reconcile with God.

PUNCH.