Godswill Akpabio, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs says he will not honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), to report to its office.
EFCC had in a letter asked Akpabio to appear at its office on March 29, 2023.
However, the Senator-elect in a letter to the commission by his lawyer, Umeh Kalu, and obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, said he would not be available due to ill health as he had already arranged medical appointments overseas.
EFCC Invites Former Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio For Fresh Questioning Over Multi-Billion Naira Fraud
Mar 29, 202
EFCC Invites Former Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio For Fresh Questioning Over Multi-Billion Naira Fraud
According to Akpabio, he is suffering from pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia.
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection while cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm.
The former minister asked the anti-graft commission to pick another date after the forthcoming Easter and Ramadan holidays.
The letter read, “We continue to act as solicitors to Senator Godswill Akpabio and write you at his instance. We write to convey our client’s inability to honour the scheduled visit to your office on the 29th day of March, 2022, due to il health, and, already arranged medical appointments overseas.
“As mentioned in our last letter to you dated February 10, 2023, our client is undergoing treatment for pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia, and, has recently been advised to seek further attention abroad.
“It is in the light of the above, that we respectfully request that our client’s appointment with you be rescheduled to a date convenient to your officers, preferably after the forthcoming Easter and Ramadan holidays.
“This request is in no way intended to disrespect your high office, even as we regret every conceivable inconvenience that our request will occasion on you and your team of operatives. Please accept the assurances of our professional regards, while thanking you for your understanding.”
SaharaReporters had in 2021 reported how the senator-elect was detained after he attempted to bribe the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa with $350,000 (about N135million).
According to sources, Akpabio was trying to bribe the EFCC Chairman because of the tons of corruption allegations against him, dating back to the time he was governor of Akwa Ibom State.