Former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, has debunked the media vibes yesterday that he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying that he merely honoured an earlier invitation from the commission.
He said, in a statement that before he had an accident in August, EFCC had summoned him to respond to a petition which a young lawyer from his state forwarded to it against him.
“A young lawyer from my state has been petitioning the EFCC accusing me of corruption. So shortly before I got involved in an accident in August, the EFCC summoned me to come and respond to the allegations.
“But following the accident, I wasn’t well enough to honour the EFCC summon. And I let them know. So today, since I’m now well, and the Senate did not sit, I decided to honour the EFCC so as to answer questions concerning the allegations against me.
“I wasn’t arrested. I walked in there myself and now I’m back at home. The EFCC operatives were professional. They asked questions, and I answered.”
Akpabio insisted the allegations against him were false, saying: “those making the allegations do not understand how government works.”
The former governor, who is now Senate Minority Leader, said the lawyer who dragged him to the EFCC submitted at least four different petitions, and that it would take a while for him to respond to each of the allegations.
“So I will return to the EFCC again as necessary. I am a law-abiding citizen, and whenever I’m summoned to answer questions about how I served my people, I will always respond.
“I urge everyone who has served in public office not to be afraid to explain what they did and how they served.” [myad]
