The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has accused the immediate past administration of Akwa Ibom State of shielding and protecting those who have looted the state treasury.
The administration of Udom Emmanuel had obtained a court order restraining the EFCC from investigating the accounts of the State Government.
But speaking on the sidelines of a media workshop for journalists with the theme, “Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes”, on Thursday, the commission’s Head of Legal and Prosecution Services, Uyo Zonal Command, Tekan Ndifon, lamented the action of the state government, adding that such was not only ‘anti-people and unpatriotic’ but also inimical to the progress and development of the state.
He said the stolen funds if recovered, would have been returned to the coffers of the state governments for development that would have benefited the people.
“The immediate past administration went to court and obtained an injunction that we don’t have the powers to investigate the state funds. The matter is in court. We tried to see what we could do with the matter. We tried to see how they could open their case but they were dilly-dallying.
“They brought different witnesses who were cross-examined. After they tried to close their case they brought two witnesses again.
“After we thought they were going to close their case they brought in other witnesses just to stall the case because they believe that since the matter is in court we can not take further steps to investigate them.
“The reason for their action is to shield the people that stole Akwa Ibom state funds.
“It is not our money. it is Akwa Ibom state money. So whatever happens we are not going to return the money to the federal government but to Akwa Ibom state to be used for the people but now they are stopping it.” Ndifon said
While noting that the commission would not rest on its oars to clamp down on corrupt politicians in the state Ndifon said that the EFCC would ensure that all impediments to investigating the state’s accounts were removed.
Earlier, the EFCC Zonal Commander, Uyo, Assistant Commander, Hamidu Saidu, decried the rising cases of real estate and internet crime in the State which he noted had become worrisome
He said only the collective fight against financial and economic crime by all Nigerians will help to nip the situation in the bud.
“The rising incidences of real estate and internet-related cases have become worrisome. The real estate sector has been identified as a strong money laundering practice in Nigeria”, he said.
