The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Initiative (NACAT) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Udom Emmanuel, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, over allegations of massive financial mismanagement.
The anti-corruption group made the demand through a petition submitted to the EFCC on Tuesday in Abuja, accusing the ex-governor of diverting over N1.5 trillion in state funds during his tenure.
The petition, signed by NACAT officials including Fejiro Tega, Stanley Ugabe, Michael Ekpo, and Victor Thompson, outlined numerous allegations against Emmanuel.
“As a leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, we will be failing in our duties and responsibilities if we turn a blind eye to the wanton corruption and embezzlement of public funds orchestrated by former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“We have painstakingly investigated and audited many of the financial records of the state available to us and detailed our findings here as part of our petition.
“The diversion of funds and primitive massive acquisition of properties by Udom and his family members, has left the residents and indigenes of the state wondering why the EFCC has not invited him for questioning and prosecution,” the group wrote.
“The former governor yet left a debt profile of over N500 billion and unpaid ongoing projects worth over N300 billion, with abandoned projects littering all over the state,” it stated.
NACAT said that the former governor, through his cronies, allegedly awarded contracts to companies owned by his allies through which funds were siphoned from the state’s coffers.
“The 31 industries, which gulped over N100 billion have not been built till now beyond the four he did that died after their commissioning.
“The only completed and standard projects he completed are his houses in Ikoyi, worth over N3 billion, as well as his new house undergoing construction that is built entirely with concrete and no blocks.
“Greenwell Technologies Limited which was claimed to be a PPP actually had 100 percent ownership by Akwa Ibom with N650 million paid by Udom in 2016 to kickstart the fertilizer company,” it further alleged.
“Udom diverted all the billions made by the fertilizer company to a shell company in the U.S., named Greenwell Technologies LLC.
“He claimed that they were to supply raw materials, whereas it was ONSA that supplied raw materials and were already paid for.
“We also have cause to believe that Udom is a major shareholder of Globus Bank,” it further alleged.
“Majority of the state government’s accounts are now with Globus Bank right from when it was floated under his tenure in Akwa Ibom State and till now,” the group added.
