The same day that former Senate Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Akwa Ibom State government confirmed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen its bank accounts.
The EFCC declined to confirm the news reports but the State Information Commissioner of Akwa Ibom state, Charles Udoh told the media yesterday that the state government just found out that all its bank accounts have been frozen.
News of the state government’s accounts being frozen broke as Akpabio announced his defection from the PDP to the APC in the midst of the national leaders of the party at Ikot Ekpene township stadium Wednesday.
A source close to the state executive council confirmed the freezing of the state government’s account but did not give details about when it occurred and the reason why the account has been frozen.
Sources close to the governor believe the freezing of the state accounts might not be unconnected with the arm twisting tactics of the federal government mainly being applied in opposition states while turning a blind eye to states governed by the APC.
The commissioner for finance, Linus Nkang did not pick his calls neither did he response to a text message sent to his phone number.
Similarly, the Benue State government also raised alarm yesterday that the EFCC has frozen the state accounts in three different banks. Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Terver Akase confirmed the action to the media. Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State recently announced his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP. Shortly after his defection, the EFCC released a report to the media that claimed that the governor has been linked with mismanagement of N22 billion in security funds, an allegation the state government denied.
The freezing of the bank accounts of both states have sent panic through the camp of the PDP governors who are now wondering if this trend is going to continue from the security agencies.
But Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum NGF, Abdulaziz Yari while speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo yesterday condemned the freezing of Benue State government account and promised to do something in his capacity as Chairman of the NGF to address the issue.
“The freezing of any account of the state government whether Benue or anywhere is unconstitutional and is not right. That is shutting down government”
Citing security exigencies, Yari said “government must spend, most especially Benue that is facing insecurity challenges”. “Well, we don’t know why the EFCC took the action. But if indeed EFCC froze the account, from my point of view, it is wrong.”
He said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will not sit down and oversee unlawful operation from the security agencies, citing the example of the sacking of the former DG DSS, Lawal Daura.
“From what happened yesterday, everyone can understand that this government is following due process and the laws of Nigeria. For one to just send security agencies to shut down the National Assembly, and the action that followed, that is what gave credit to this government from local and international community”.
“Similar thing had happened in 2011 and 2014 respectively, but nothing was done about it, this time around, government said enough is enough.
“But the government of Muhammadu Buhari is following due process and will never oversee an unlawful activity by any security agency. So in the case of Benue, I believe something must be done.”
Similarly, Ibrahim Ganduje, the governor of Kano State, while also speaking on the issue, stated that he did not have the facts as it is a “security issue”, adding that “ I do not want to look stupid by commenting on what l do not have the facts.”
He however condemned the Tuesday siege on the National Assembly.
Fears have been raised by both the opposition parties and the business community of the apparent partisanship of the security agencies in the run-up to the 2019 general elections. In March, Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the EFCC attracted a lot of criticism from Nigerians when he was caught wearing a re-elect President Buhari campaign lapel.
The freezing of the state government accounts comes a day after the Lawal Daura, former Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) was sacked for authorising what the Presidency has now called ‘unauthorised raid of the National Assembly. The controversial invasion has drawn criticism from both local and international observers. Both the PDP and the APC have accused each other of orchestrating the invasion.
The PDP issued a statement on Wednesday claiming that the Presidency APC have become confused and overburdened by guilt over the invasion.
The PDP said APC and the Presidency have failed to sway the public opinion with the sack of Daura over the invasion.
The statement released by the PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, claimed that;
“Nigerians are now clear on the fact that the invasion was carefully planned by the APC and the Presidency and that they would have succeeded but for the resistance mounted by our lawmakers, Nigerians and the media, who stood in defence of democracy.”
The PDP insisted on an independent panel of enquiry to be headed by a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the assault while all culprits, no matter how highly placed, must be made to face the wrath of the law.
In a different state, also released yesterday, Yekini Nabena, APC Acting National Publicity accused President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki of plotting invasion of the upper legislative chamber. Nabena said that investigations by APC have uncovered the sinister plot hatched by Saraki to foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
