N5.5bn scam: I have no deal with Ukachukwu - Akpabio

Kunle Olayeni, Uyo - 03.02.2008

GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has denied involvement in any housing scam of N5.5 billion, saying the fabricators of the story are only out to achieve mischievous political motive.

Akpabio spoke with newsmen in Uyo on Friday, against the backdrop of controversy generated by a newspaper publication alleging that he colluded with one Prince C.N. Ukachukwu to carry out a N5.5 billion suspicious housing project.

The governor described the report as malicious and the handiwork of enemies of his administration, adding that all being done by the detractors was to lay a foundation that he was a corrupt governor.

Akpabio explained that the said Ukachukwu only came to Akwa Ibom to discuss a project with him but he subsequently referred him to the “implementation committee” headed by the state deputy governor, Engineer Patrick Ekpotu, to acquaint the committee with the business details.

Since the encounter, according to the governor, Ukachukwu had never visited the state again. Though the governor did not disclose when he had encounter with Ukachukwu, he maintained that no money was expended on any housing project by his government.

Governor Akpabio wondered how fraud could have been committed in a project that was neither formalized nor embarked upon. The State Deputy Governor, Engineer Patrick Ekpotu, who also corroborated the position of Akpabio, remarked that Ukachukwu only made a verbal proposal concerning the project.

Ekpotu explained: “Somebody led him (Ukachukwu) to the gov-ernor. I was seated with the governor. He made a verbal proposal and the governor quickly directed him to the implementation committee headed by me.

“So, I sat with him, he made a verbal proposal, explained everything and we said, fine, it sounds very good. But go and put it in a document and then come and make a presentation to the entire committee. Ever since then, that guy has never visited this state. The next thing is that kind of publication.”

Governor Akpabio, who admitted that he was initially angered by the “false publication”, leading to the recent institution of sedition charges against the newspaper organisation, stated that he had now decided not to press forward with the case.

He told newsmen that he had instructed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Victor Iyanam, to withdraw all charges against the media outfit from the court.

Akpabio called on jour-nalists not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to engage in character assassination.

He pledged the determination of his government to relate well with journalists, saying members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm are major stakeholders in the development of the society.