The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) seeking an investigation into former Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel over allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.
The petition was submitted to the EFCC headquarters on Tuesday, with NACAT officials emphasizing concerns about the alleged misuse of state funds during Emmanuel’s eight-year tenure.
Fejiro Oliver Tega Oghenedoro, NACAT’s Executive Director of Investigations, and Stanley Ugabe, the Operations Manager, led the petition submission. The group alleges that over N4.5 billion was withdrawn in just six months for purported security operations that were never carried out, with funds earmarked for the police, army, and navy allegedly diverted into private accounts.
NACAT called for Emmanuel to be subjected to the same scrutiny as other former governors currently under investigation, urging the EFCC to hold him accountable if the allegations are substantiated.
Speaking to the press after submitting the petition, Oghenedoro said: “NACAT would be derelict in its duties if we ignored the alleged corruption and mismanagement of public funds by the former governor of Akwa Ibom State. We’ve thoroughly investigated and audited available state financial records and presented our findings in this petition.”
He continued, “For example, over N4.5 billion was withdrawn and purportedly allocated to security agencies within six months in 2018. Our investigation shows that these funds were not received by the security operatives but misappropriated for personal gain.”
Oghenedoro also challenged the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State in 2018 to clarify whether Udom Emmanuel authorized the release of N360 million to a unit called Operation Thunder under his command.
“If former governors like Ifeanyi Okowa and Yahaya Bello can be invited and investigated, Udom Emmanuel should also be required to account for the allegations against him,” Oghenedoro added. “We have submitted this petition to the EFCC to ensure that Nigerians are informed and can follow the case.”
