Date Published: 12/13/09

Dear Editor,

$3.1M & Gov Akpabio: Litmus for EFCC & Police

Many people accused the former Chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, of selective prosecution of corrupt politicians. This is exactly what the present EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri is also allegedly being accused of continuing. On the part of IGP Onovo he is being accused of inconsistency; he does not match his utterances with actions.

Litmus test is starring them in the face: Reading The Guardianon Sunday newspaper of 6 th December, 2009 entitled “ Bank Chief Nabbed Over Possession of $3.1million at Lagos Airport”; the case has been transferred to Abuja Police headquarters. One expected that the case should have been transferred to EFCC without the present delays.

The Guardian reported that a woman Deputy General Manager with a recently rescued bank was arrested on November 11, at the Lagos airport, carrying with her $3.1m in cash. On interrogation, she confessed that she was ferrying it to Abuja on behalf of a governor of one of the southern States. The woman was later identified to be the wife of the governor’s Special Assistant for Utilities.

While The Guardian report was diplomatic, an online publication www.pointblanknews.com , in its news posted the same date (December 6, 2009) as The Guardian’s, was specific with names – Akpabio is the governor while the bank woman is Mrs.. Emem Etuk, wife to Akpabio’s Special Assistant for Utilities. Mrs.. Etuk was detained by Lagos for two weeks before transferring her to Abuja.. The online newspaper revealed that the governor has been shuttling to and from Abuja, seeking ‘political’ solution after failing in lobbying the bank (Bank PHB) to accept ownership of the cash. The bank offered him apology for refusing to play along because it lacked documentation and would be unable to convince anyone that as a bank it allowed Mrs. Etuk to carry such huge amount (in foreign exchange) on behalf of the bank, unescorted.

The public waits to see how both the Police and EFCC handle this case of money laundering (and stealing of public fund). One other interesting thing was Etuk’s confession that it was “profit” from government fund which was lodged in the governor’s private account with the bank. This confirms that some governors treat State funds as their private estate.

CHIEF PATRICK UMOETTE, 358 AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA