A former lawyer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nkereuwen Mark Anana, has dragged the Gov. Udom Emmanuel before Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to know how the 13% derivation refunds from the federal government was utilized.
Anana in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/423/23, listed the State Governor, the State’s Accountant-General and Accountant-General of the Federation, as first to third defendants.
Anana, a citizen of Akwa lbom State, in his 35-paragragh affidavit in support of the motion stated that sometimes in November, 2022, in Rivers State of Nigeria, at the venue of the inauguration of the Nigerian Law School Rivers State, the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, informed the public that the source of money he used in carrying out developments and projects in Rivers State including the Nigerian Law School recently built by his government in Rivers State, is mainly from the 13 percent oil derivation monies which accrued to Rivers State of Nigeria, as oil producing State. Adding that the 13 percent oil derivation monies that were not paid to the Niger Delta States since 1999 President Mohammadu Buhari’s government approved and paid it in his tenure.
He cited Wike as saying that the money he uses in developing the state is not from FAAC (Federal Account Allocation Committee} money but money paid for Rivers State, Akwa-Ibom State, Delta State, Edo State, Bayelsa State. He added that since 2019 till date, Governor Nyesom Wike has commissioned the 9 flyovers and that between now and February 2023, he will commission the 12 flyovers, among others.
Anana stated that Akwa Ibom State is located in the Southern part of Nigeria and one of the Niger-Delta States being an of producing State, adding that as a fact that Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, had never prior to governor Wike’s revelation disclose that Akwa-ibom State has received such money from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He further averred that he knows as a fact that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State hid this fact from the people of the state until Governor Wike exposed it. Adding that as a fact, the Governor of Akwa ibom Stale, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has not made any publication or speech in denial of receiving the 13 percent oil derivation refund after the disclosure by Governor Nyesom Wike.
He averred that he instituted this action to compel information on the amount paid to the Akwa lbom State Government as her 13 percent oil derivation monies and other monies realized, coming into the treasury of Akwa ibom State Government under the leadership of governor Udom Gabnel Emmanuel.
Anana pointed out that several projects have been abandoned by the Udom Emmanuel administration in Akwa lbom State vis Ibom airport road expansion, Ibom Science/industrial Park, several drainages in Uyo the State capital have been abandoned, the International worship center has been abandoned, peacock paint factory which he claimed to have revived has been abandoned, coconut refinery abandoned, Itu automobile assembly plant/ factory abandoned etc. And that the General hospital otherwise known as Cottage Hospital, built and abandoned uncompleted by the previous government of Akwa lbom State in Ukanafun Local Government has also been abandoned by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
The plaintiff further averred that there is so much poverty in Akwa Ibom State and that gratuities of retired public and civil servants some of which have not been paid. And that it was in the middle of this that the said governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel sought nomination from the Peoples Democratic Party to contest for president of this country.
Anana said 99 percent of the roads in Ukanafun Local Government, Oruk Anam Local Government, Ibiono Ibom Local Govemment and other local government of the State have not been tared, there by making life difficult for transporters and other road users during raining season. While old women and men suffer to access markets during core raining season because of poor road infrastructure in the State.
He stated that he had sent a letter dated November 30, 2022 through DHL to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2011 requesting for information on the income and expenditure of Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
He also stated that he sent a letter dated November 30, 2022 through DHL to the State’s Accountant General, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2011 requesting for information on the income and expenditure of Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. While he also said he sent a letter dated January 11, 2023 through DHL fo the Accountant General of the Federation pursuant to the Freedom of information Act 2011 requesting for information on the Federal Monthly allocation to Akwa Ibom State Government.