IDONGESIT NKANGA’S BADGE OF SHAME

IDONGESIT NKANGA'S BADGE OF SHAME

IDONGESIT NKANGA’S BADGE OF SHAME – – We are not totally surprised that it is Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), of all persons, that is inserting himself into the decision of the Senate to probe into the affairs of the NDDC and its interim management.

 

For several years now, the PDP chieftain has used the cover of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), of which he is the chairman, to make reckless statements against President Muhammadu and his administration. On many occasions, he has accused the President of covering up corruption in his administration.



Just (yesterday), Nkanga issued a statement advising the National Assembly ‘’not to allow persons with vested interests to compromise the probe’’ of the NDDC by the Senate. We believe that Nkanga is simply trying to distract us from the corruption case he has with the EFCC. He has no credibility and honour to advise the National Assembly on matters of probity and accountability. He is a dubious and dishonest character.

 

Nigerians will remember that in May 2016, the EFCC had arrested Nkanga for collecting N450 million bribe from the N23 billion slush funds provided by former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke. Nkanga had collected the money just before the 2015 elections when he was the DG of the PDP Election Campaign Organisation in Akwa Ibom State.

 

The money was part of the N23 billion ($115 million then) slush windfall put together by Allison-Madueke for the financing of the PDP Campaigns nationwide. It was shared to all the PDP state chapters. But after receiving the funds on behalf of the PDP Campaign in the state, Nkanga diverted it to his own use, and spent it to acquire property in Abuja, Lagos and PortHarcourt.



He did not even inform the Party or Chief Godswill Akpabio, who was the governor then. After President Buhari took over in May 2015, the EFCC launched a thorough and forensic investigation into how the slush funds were shared and traced the Akwa Ibom share to the retired Air Commodore.

 

Nkanga initially denied receipt of the money when he was questioned in May 2016. He later accepted responsibility when confronted with the photo-page of his international passport and Air force retirement ID card with which he signed for the cash. He was promptly detained in the EFCC office in Port Harcourt until Senator Godswill Akpabio (then the Senate Minority Leader) appealed to Gov. Udom Emmanuel to help him out. (Please see the attached newspaper links to for details).

 

We understand that the EFCC will soon charge Nknga to court for grand felony, theft, receiving money under false pretence and money laundering. This is the same man who has since become the Chairman of PANDEF and is going about making reckless and irresponsible statements about President Buhari and Senator Akpabio.



Let us be clear: Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC have already welcomed the Senate’s probe, and have pledged to cooperate with the Senate in its investigations. The Minister and the interim Management of the NDDC have said repeatedly that there is neither fraud nor financial misconducts in the NDDC. Senator Akpabio himself has also vowed that he has never been involved in awards of contracts in the NDDC beyond his official duties of making recommendations to the President.

 

We therefore find Idongesit Nkanga’s careless statements very partisan, irresponsible and self-serving. Does he think that he can easily pull the wool over our eyes on his pending criminal case? We hereby ask the EFCC to expedite action and bring the full weight of the law against this old fox.

 

 

Otuekong Iniobong John

Akwa Ibom State Chairman

APC NATIONAL YOUTH CAUCUS

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