Anxiety as Code of Conduct probes NDDC Effiong Akwa for alleged breach, living above means
There is a pall of anxiety in the office of the Interim Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Effiong Akwa, as the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has begun investigation of the NDDC chief over allegations of ‘breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers.’
Akwa is also being investigated for allegedly living above means, according to a letter from CCB dated 13th January, 2021 and addressed to Mr. Effiong Akwa. The letter seen by Political Economist and signed by one Gwimi S.P, Director Intelligence, Investigation and Monitoring of the CCB was an invitation to Mr. Akwa to “come along with all asset declarations made since joining public service and ask to see Director Investigation, Intelligent (sic) & Monitoring.”
According to the letter, Akwa is to appear on Thursday, 11th February, 2021 by 1.00pm at CCB Interview Room, 5th Floor, Annex 3, Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja.
The letter reads inter alia: “Pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the 3rd Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3(e) to (sic) the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I am directed to invite you for an interview in respect of the above stated matter…”
Our reporter gathered that the Bureau has been inundated with a deluge of petitions from concerned Nigerians alleging that Mr Akwa has been living a flamboyant life far above his means. The petitioners also alleged that Akwa may have under-declared his assets in the forms submitted to the Bureau as mandated by the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
Recall that Mr. Akwa was appointed in December, 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari. Until his appointment, Effiong Akwa was the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of the NDDC, under the Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei-led Interim Management Committee (IMC).
However, his appointment has been strewn with controversy as he was alleged to be conflicted and therefore not fit to hold such office.
A group, the Patriotic Youth Organization of Nigeria had in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/609/2020 urged the court to declare the appointment of Effiong Akwa as a sole Administrator of the NDDC as illegal, void and null and of no effect. The suit is before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.