Akwa Ibom Governor Defends Udom Emmanuel, Describes EFCC Fraud Allegations As False

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has dismissed the ₦700 billion fraud allegations against his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, calling them baseless and untrue.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Udom Emmanuel on March 4, 2025, following a petition from the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking, accusing him of money laundering and fund diversion during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.

The petition claims Emmanuel received ₦3 trillion from the Federation Account over eight years but left behind ₦500 billion in debt and ₦300 billion in unfinished projects, with ₦700 billion allegedly unaccounted for.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Abak, Governor Eno questioned the legitimacy of these figures, insisting they did not come from Akwa Ibom’s records.

He criticized the pattern of targeting former governors in the state, noting that similar accusations had been made against past leaders, including ex-Governor Obong Victor Attah and current Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Uno Eno said, “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.

“I begin to feel that how we treat our leaders after they have put in all their efforts to serve can be very discouraging.

“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 doing it to Gov Udom Emmanuel.”

The governor expressed concern that such actions discourage public officials from serving wholeheartedly, as they fear being vilified after leaving office.

He emphasized that leaders like Udom Emmanuel, who have served diligently, deserve respect and recognition rather than baseless accusations.

“I’m already expecting that it will happen to me but what this does is to 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.

“When a man has served his state meritoriously like Governor Udom Emmanuel did, honestly, should be honoured, and should be 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,” Eno concluded.

KanyiDaily recalls that the EFCC recently arrested Prof. Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), over allegations of contract fraud and financial misconduct.