Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has distanced the state government from the ₦700 billion fraud allegations leveled against his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking, currently being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (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 during a town hall meeting in Abak on Saturday.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor condemned what he described as the persistent vilification of past governors in the oil-rich South-South state since the return to democracy in 1999.
“We have done this consistently—from Obong Attah to the distinguished Senate President (Godswill Akpabio), we vilified him; we went to EFCC. Now, we are doing the same to Gov. Udom Emmanuel,” Eno stated.
He argued that subjecting past leaders to fraud probes discourages those in office from giving their best in service.
“I’m already expecting it will happen to me, but what this does is discourage leadership. It discourages you from giving your best, from burning out yourself because, in the end, people don’t show gratitude,” he added.
“When a man has served his state meritoriously, as Governor Udom Emmanuel did, he should be honored and respected. This kind of vilification is incorrect and should not continue.”
On March 4, 2025, EFCC operatives detained Emmanuel over alleged ₦700 billion fraud following accusations of money laundering and fund diversion.
The petitioner claimed Emmanuel received ₦3 trillion from the Federation Account over eight years but left the state with a ₦500 billion debt and unpaid projects worth ₦300 billion, allegedly failing to account for ₦700 billion.
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Meanwhile, on February 28, 2024, the EFCC arraigned former Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, and four others at the Abia State High Court over the alleged misappropriation of ₦47 billion.
The defendants, including Orji’s son, Chinedum Orji, and other former state officials, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count of conspiracy, theft, and illegal fund conversion. Justice Lilian Abai granted them bail and adjourned the case to June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
