Immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, who doubles as the Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio is wanted in relation to the allegations of stockpiling arms and ammunition at the presidential wing of the government lodge in Uyo where he (Akpabio) is currently occupying months after he left office. Last week Thursday, it would be recalled that the State Security Service (DSS) invaded the government lodge where two rooms stacked to the roof with American dollars were discovered. Presidential lodge of the Akwa Ibom Government House…where the loots were discovered
Presidential lodge of the Akwa Ibom Government House…where the loots were discovered
According to security sources, "other items discovered was a secret armoury with sophisticated guns, ammunition, bullet proof vests, explosives and a secret tower where highly sensitive and classified documents were hidden. The invasion by the Special Unit of the DSS who arrived Uyo from Abuja was carried out without the knowledge of the Akwa Ibom State Director of the SSS to avoid any leakage that would have compromised the operation.
During the operation, an extremely rattled Governor Udom Emmanuel who was not in at the Government House at the commencement of the raid hurriedly rushed back to meet the operation at an advanced stage. He was alleged to have put a call across to his predecessor who instructed the governor not to allow the DSS agents conducting the raid remove a "secret safe" that was discovered in one of the rooms.
It was not immediately clear what was the content of the safe. "Udom, listen to me, your life depends on what is inside that safe. On no account should you allow the SSS take or open that safe", Akpabio was alleged to have instructed the governor. After the telephone conversation with Akpabio, a visibly shaken Emmanuel was alleged to have jumped on top the safe to resist the SSS’s attempt to take the safe away.
"Over my dead body will I allow you carry this safe. My life depends on this safe," the governor was allegedly quoted while still holding tight to the safe from the rooftop of it. The two rooms in question were later cordoned off by the SSS before a batch of the EFCC operatives moved in to secure the busted cash which took about three hours to evacuate.
Before now, Akpabio had left the country last Tuesday ostensibly to receive medical treatment following an accident he had in Abuja on his way to the airport. The widely reported accident was said to have happened when his convoy refused toobey traffic light.Few days after his departure, after he was declared fit by medical doctors who attended to him at the National Hospital Abuja, he travelled abroad for further medical treatment.
Those who know claimed he might have stage managed the foreign treatment as a pretext to his fleeing the country. For now, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised a panel to probe the accident. The American Embassy whose car was involved in the crash, has also raised a team to help local investigators working to unravel the factors behind the mysterious accident which affected only Akpabio even when the car allegedly tumbled.
Already, the federal government through the Immigration Service has withdrawn the former governor’s official passport with which he travelled thus effectively making him an illegal immigrant wherever he is domiciled.
Security sources say Akpabio might have decided to evacuate his family out of the United Kingdom because of the diplomatic relations between Nigeria and that country which may not hesitate to extradite him when declared wanted by the Buhari administration. Akpabio’s family are currently in the United States.
Akpabio’s palatial house in his hometown in Ukana is presently under watch following credible intelligence that similar arms might be kept there in anticipation of a likely order of fresh election by the election tribunal. Governor Emmanuel Udom initially denied that no raid took place, then, later accepting it happened but no cash or arms were found. Over $500 million was reported to have been removed in the said raid.
– By Aniete Ukoh, Uyo
No comments:
Post a Comment