…exonerates Akpabio
…cites ‘criminal intents’ against Minister
The sustained campaign of calumny against the Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has once again come to light as the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has denied asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Distancing himself from a malicious letter said to have emanated from the Clerk of the Senate, Senator Omo-Agege, denounced the letter which was purportedly written on his behalf, requesting the acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ibrahim Magu, to investigate the Minister.
The denial of this letter by Omo-Agege has further proven that there are some elements in the National Assembly bent to tarnish Akpabio with spurious allegations in order to deter him from looking into the books of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, which had been used as a cash cow to a few who corruptly enriched themselves, thereby denying the region of worthwhile development.
Describing the document as fake, the Deputy President of the Senate, insisted that he never instructed the Clerk or any other person to contact the EFCC to investigate any individual.
A statement signed by Yomi Odunuga, special adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Deputy President of the Senate, reads: “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has been drawn to a letter dated 7th May, 2020, purportedly written by the Clerk of the Senate, acting on behalf of the Office of Deputy President of the Senate, requesting the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and monitor the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and one other.
“This Office hereby states that the said letter is false, fake, malicious, mischievous and vexatious.
“This Office never instructed the Clerk of the Senate, or in fact any person, to write to or contact the EFCC in relation to any person.
“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to urge the public to disregard the fake letter, same being the handiwork of a person or persons with criminal intents.”
