The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate ministers that recently resigned from the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
MOSIEND, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Friday, by its acting chairman, Comrade Marvin Kofi Thompson, urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the immediate-past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the huge monies spent in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group accused Akpabio of allegedly using funds from the NDDC to finance his 2023 Presidential ambition, noting that the Niger Delta witnessed “gross setbacks” during his time as minister.
According to the statement, “MOSIEND will like to guide EFCC to investigate the financial misappropriation under the Professor K Pondi and Barr Akwa Effiong Okon administrations as both administration was marred with corruption, high handedness and, financial crimes.
“It is on record that the Niger Delta region witnessed gross setbacks as it relates to development in the roles of NDDC. Niger Delta region had obviously witnessed development standstill or dark age under the administration of Goodwill Akpabio as a minister because of the manipulative tendencies of the Akwa Ibom State politician.”
The group challenged Akpabio to come out clean and explain how NDDC budgets were expensed under his administration.
They further urged the presidential hopeful to explain to Nigerians how the N799 billion of the 2020-2021 budget was used under his administration.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide it with the financial details of registered political parties as it launches an investigation into the finances of the parties and their presidential aspirants ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had hinted on a Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, that the commission would be working in synergy with INEC and other election-related organisations to track the sources of the money spent on the purchase of nomination forms.
