EFCC Didn’t Arrest Me – Godswill Akpabio

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has come out to say that he wasn’t detained by EFCC.

He recently revealed this via a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Anietie Ekong, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, he was the one who sought an audience with the anti-graft agency on issues bordering on the transfer of funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in respect of the 3% statutory remittances from Oil and Gas Companies in the custody of the EFCC, and he was not arrested.

Akpabio added that there was no issue of detention, and he could not have carried $350,000 into the office of the Chairman of the EFCC as he went there without a bag or a container.

His words, “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON has been drawn to a defamatory article titled: ‘How EFCC detained Godswill Akpabio for two hours after attempting to bribe Agency Chairman with $350,000.”

“For the information of the general public, the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has no reason to offer bribe to the new Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa and never did.”

“On Wednesday, April 14, 2021 the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio through a telephone call sought audience with the new Chairman of the EFCC to discuss the transfer of funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in respect of the 3% statutory remittances from Oil and Gas Companies in the custody of the EFCC.”

“President Muhammadu Buhari had since December 2020 approved the transfer of monies earlier paid by International Oil Companies into the CBN/EFCC account now to be transferred to the CBN/NDDC account.”

“The two Senior Officials met and had a robust discussion and the Honourable Minister received very intelligent and useful input from the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa on the ongoing forensic audit of the NDDC.”

“However, the discussion was inconclusive since the Minister needed to attend a security meeting with select South-South/South-East leaders and Governors in the Office of the National Security Adviser then slated for 1.30pm of the same day.”

”Both Officials resolved to reconvene same day by 5.00pm to conclude their interactions. The Honourable Minister returned to the office of the EFCC Chairman at about 5.45pm and departed thereafter at about 6.20pm after very resourceful deliberations.”

“There was no issue of detention and Senator Akpabio could not have carried $350,000 into the office of the Chairman of the EFCC as he went there without a bag or a container.”

”The EFCC Chairman Bawa gave useful and intelligent advice on the methodology of achieving success in the ongoing forensic audit of the NDDC.”

”The Honourable Minister sought the cooperation of the EFCC to actualize recoveries of further 3% levies due to the Commission still being owed by some Oil and Gas Companies.”