13% Derivation: Investigate And Arrest Obaseki Group tell EFCC
Stakeholders from Niger Delta have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the utilisation of the funds by their governors. They claimed that the governors kept mute on the funds until Wike raised the alarm.
The citizens expressed shock that such huge income was received by the state governments besides the monthly federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without their knowledge.
A group known as “Good Governance Advocates” in Akwa Ibom State in an open letter petitioned the Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, on the matter.
In a letter signed by Comdr. Bassey Samuel, Comdr. Kufre Obot and three others, the group called for investigation against alleged financial improprieties by the Akwa Ibom State government. They also copied the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali.
They alleged that the state has nothing to show for the receipt of the money which, according to a non-governmental organisation, Policy Alert, was N171 billion, but that was promptly denied by the government.
The National Coordinator of Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, Clifford Thomas Esq. said there was no justifiable reason why Governor Udom Emmanuel never mentioned to Akwa Ibom citizens the amount he legitimately collected on behalf of the state as arrears of the derivation fund.
“It’s just a matter of showing us how much you have collected. For the fact that you did not disclose it to us means that you had the intention to steal.
“Proper disclosure presupposes that you are transparent and accountable to the people,” he said.