EFCC Vilifying Udom Says Akwa Ibom Gov

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has described as untrue the ₦700 billion fraud allegation levelled against his immediate predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, by the Network against Corruption and Trafficking, which is being probed by the anti-graft agency EFCC.

“I don’t know where they get those figures from because it can’t be from Akwa Ibom State; it can’t be from us—we don’t have such figures,” Eno said at a town hall meeting in the Abak area of the state on Saturday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor condemned what he described as a vilification of the past governors of the oil-rich South-South state since the return to democracy in 1999.

I feel that how we treat our leaders after they have worked so hard can be discouraging, said Eno.

“We have done this consistently from Obong Attah, even the distinguished Senate President (Godswill Akpabio); we also vilified him; we went to EFCC. Now, we are applying the same tactics to Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The governor said subjecting leaders to fraud probes after they have served their people well would discourage those currently in office from giving their best while in service.

“I’m already expecting that it will happen to me, but what the situation does is discourage leadership; it discourages you from giving your best, from burning out yourself, because at the end of the day, the people don’t show you that gratitude,” he said.

“When a man has served his state meritoriously like Governor Udom Emmanuel did, he should honestly be honoured and respected.
“I don’t see a place for this kind of vilification that is going on; it is not correct—I don’t believe it should go on.

“It is not correct, it is not truthful, and we need to just dismiss it with a pinch of salt,” he added.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained Emmanuel for alleged ₦700 billion fraud.

The development followed the petitioner’s allegations of money laundering and diversion of funds preferred against PDP’s Emmanuel, who was Akwa Ibom State governor from May 2015 to May 2023.

The petitioner alleged that Emmanuel received ₦3 trillion from the Federation Account in eight years but left a debt profile of ₦500bn and unpaid ongoing projects worth ₦300bn. He was also alleged to be unable to account for ₦700bn.

Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, has denied allegations of a ₦700 billion scam against his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, made by the Network against Corruption and Trafficking. The EFCC is investigating the case.

“I don’t know where they get those figures from because it can’t be from Akwa Ibom State; it can’t be from us—we don’t have such figures,” Eno stated during a town hall gathering in the state’s Abak district on Saturday.

The governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decried what he called the vilification of previous governors of the oil-rich South-South state since its return to democracy in 1999.

“I believe that how we treat our leaders after they have worked so hard can be discouraging,” stated Eno.

“We have done this constantly since Obong Attah, even the renowned Senate President (Godswill Akpabio); we attacked him and went to the EFCC. We are now using the same methods on Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The governor stated that subjecting leaders to fraud investigations after they have served their constituents effectively will deter those now in office from doing their best while in office.

“I’m already expecting that it will happen to me, but what the situation does is discourage leadership; it discourages you from giving your best, from burning out yourself, because at the end of the day, the people don’t show you that gratitude,” he told me.

“When a man has served his state meritoriously like Governor Udom Emmanuel did, he should honestly be honoured and respected.”I don’t see a place for the kind of vilification that is going on; it is not appropriate—and I don’t believe it should continue.

“It is not correct, it is not truthful, and we need to just dismiss it with a pinch of salt,” according to him.
On March 4, 2025, the EFCC seized Emmanuel for alleged ₦700 billion fraud.

The development came in response to the petitioner’s charges of money laundering and cash diversion against PDP governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel, who served from May 2015 to May 2023.

The petitioner claimed that Emmanuel got ₦3 trillion from the Federation Account over eight years, but left a debt profile of ₦500 billion and unpaid projects totalling ₦300 billion. He was also accused of failing to account for ₦700 billion.