There is absolutely no way the former Minister Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, can honestly deny his involvement in the current ordeal of Senator Bassey Albert with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He may beg to be counted out of the scandal, but discerning minds are aware that Senator Akpabio was involved at every instance right from the initial case in Lagos, at the point of reintroduction of case by EFCC at the Federal High Court in Uyo in 2019, up to the point of conviction few days ago.


Akpabio, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Jackson Udom, claims he "was not even aware that Senator Bassey Albert had any existing case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC) not to talk of having knowledge of the facts of the matter". However, available facts show that between 2013 and 2014, when Akpabio felt slighted by OBA's audacity to challenge his choice of successor, he sacked OBA and threatened to deal with him like Absalom.

These statements were repeated by the former governor at different fora, which made many think then that there could be an attempt on OBA's life, but after intervention by traditional rulers and statesmen, there was a peace accord. Incidentally, Akpan was invited to Aso Rock, where then President Goodluck Jonathan foisted a senatorial ticket on him.

Unknown to OBA, Akpabio had hatched a more sinister plan against his ambition by forwarding incriminating documents about him to Leo Ekpenyong.

Now, Mr. Leo Ekpenyong, the serial petitioner, is notorious for his predatory attacks on politicians in Akwa Ibom. General perception among citizens is that he does this to extort money from them. Akpabio's apologists have suggested that OBA's ordeal stems from the petition from Mr. Leo Ekpenyong to the EFCC. But, this is half truth because although this was the hand of Esau's, the voice was certainly Jacob's. There are evidences to proof that Leo Ekpenyong dropped his petition against Akpabio, and afterwards he was seen a couple of times with the senator.

It is also common knowledge that Ekpenyong's petition against Akpabio was for far more serious financial crimes, which where later abandoned by the antigraft agency, when he crossed over to All Progressives Congress, APC.

For those who do not know, in 2018, when Akpabio decided on his uncommon defection, OBA was offered absolution from these charges and infinite suspension of the case as incentive to join APC with Akpabio, but he refused. Consequently, a year later, the matter was taken up afresh by the EFCC and since then, OBA has been in and out of court to defend himself untill he was recently sentenced.

What Akwa Ibom people should know is that whatever gimmick anyone later played, using opportunity presented by the case to have him jailed has its source from Senator Akpabio, who has repeatedly shown deep hatred for Ibibio people and their leaders. Only a naive observer would dwell on the judgment without considering how the matter started.

It is more like Leo Ekpenyong and Godswill Akpabio created a plot which led to OBA's downfall.

Ifiok Johnny, writes from Nsit Atai, Akwa Ibom State

https://ourdailywire.com/akpabio-knows-about-obas-ordeal-with-efcc/