Posted by JOE EFFIONG, Uyo on
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have once again descended on Akwa Ibom State. This time, their mission was....
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have once again descended on Akwa Ibom State. This time, their mission was to arrest the head of Abak Local Government Area, Rev. Innocent Idiong.
A petition sent to them by five of the councillors in the government council prompted the crime hunters, who arrested the revered pastor-turned politicians last Tuesday. One of the allegations said the council boss withdrew, without approval, "N820,000 for pilgrimage to Jerusalem for his mother and himself".
Others accusations included misappropriation of the sum of N14 million, being money received as stabilisation fund but which the head of council allegedly pocketed.
"The head of council allegedly collected the sum of N40 million from his church, Hutherian Brethren Church, as a loan purportedly authorised by the state governor to settle N29 million allegedly owed Co-operative Development Bank, Uyo and has till date not accounted for the balance of N11 million.
"He also took another loan of N13.5 million from the same church without disclosing purpose, authority of approval of the legislative council, and in short, without the least courtesy of informing the legislative.
The councillor also told EFCC that Idiong took overdraft-totalling N25.5 million from a bank in Uyo without disclosing the purpose and without authority or approval of the legislative council.
Other funds the councillors said were not accounted for are: N1.5 million for best performance head of council award in Abuja; N2 million for the purchase of 35KVA generator, which he has not bought till date; N3.7 million for Christmas gifts and get-together party for last December and none was done; N700, 000 for transformer installation which he has not done."
Others are N800, 000 for the furnishing of the head of council office. N450, 000 for the renovation of chairman's lodge. This has not been done; N1.030 million for erosion control job, which was actually done by FERMA, N2 million withdrawn for alleged economic tour to the city of Detroit - Michigan State of United States of America"
After listing 13 more allegations of fraudulent acts against Idiong, the councillors, said the council boss has consistently joggled the figure paid as staff salary between N20 million N27 million depending on what the council receives as monthly allocation.
"The direct consequence of this is that there is no meaningful project in Abak Local Government Area that has been embarked upon and completed in the area as done by other local government councils. We trust that you will set the necessary machinery in motion to investigate and prosecute the head of council in the interest of the people of Abak Local Government area," the petition said.
The petition was written in September 26, 2005 and signed by five councillors namely Nsikak Essien, Patrick Mbang, Iniobong Udo-Mark, Friday Ukpong and Effiong Udofia.
The EFCC Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Osifa Nwajah, would not be reached to comment on the fate of Rev Innocent Idiong. A lady, who picked his call said, "he is not available at the moment of call."