Posted by From Aniekan Bassey (Uyo) and Clifford Ndujihe (Lagos) on
AKWA IBOM State Deputy Governor, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, has denied buying a house in the United States of America (USA), but admitted that the property belongs to his teenage son.
AKWA IBOM State Deputy Governor, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, has denied buying a house in the United States of America (USA), but admitted that the property belongs to his teenage son.
In his response to the flurry of allegations against him by the House of Assembly, on which basis it had commenced an impeachment process against him two weeks ago, Ekpenyong said he had never diverted any public funds for his personal use or that of his family since assumption of office.
His words: "I particularly deny diverting public funds for the purpose of purchasing a house for my son, Master Emmanuel Ekpenyong, at 11835 Elkington CT, Houston, TX77071, USA.
"I, however, admit that my son, Emmanuel C. Ekpenyong, owns a house at 11835 Elkington CT, Houston, TX 77071, USA, which was purchased for him by a privately owned company, Messrs EEMJM Investment Company Limited, in September 2001 through a loan sourced from Union Home Savings and Loans Limited. The facts of the transaction are clearly verifiable."
On his alleged ownership of sundry companies, which are allegedly used as fronts for contract awards during his tenure as Chairman of Finance and General Purpose Committee (FGPC), the deputy governor said the body lacked the powers to award contracts. The Executive Council, he explained, is vested with the power to consider and award contracts.
Two weeks ago, the House of Assembly had accused him of misconduct and spelt out a seven-point charge, which they deemed impeachment offences.
Meanwhile, an aide of Governor Victor Attah has distanced the state chief executive from the moves to impeach Ekpenyong.
In a telephone chat with The Guardian, Mr. Ise Akpaso, Attah's Chief Press Secretary, said: "The House of Assembly is independent and the members are carrying out the exercise on their own. People are just making unfounded insinuations and carrying rumours all over the place."
The reports had alleged that the governor does not want Ekpenyong to succeed him in 2007, hence the move to force him out of the way.
Attah hails from the majority Ibibio while Ekpenyong is from Annang who are insisting that it is their turn to produce the next governor.
The impeachment saga started after a meeting held on May 28, 2005 at Obot-Akara, Ekpenyong's village.
Many top politicians in the state attended the meeting, which the government reportedly perceived as a plot to destabilise the state.