Senate Presidency: Who’s after Godswill Obot Akpabio?

It is obvious some minor cabals in the presidency are afraid of emergence of former Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio as the 10th Senate president of Nigeria.

At the moment, Akpabio is the President elect’s favourite to succeed Ahmad Lawan but how it is going to be fulfilled is what is playing out in some dirty ways.

For Akpabio’s dream not to be fulfilled as the Senate President of Nigeria, the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has once more been invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding charges of corruption against him.

This information comes in the wake of a recent rumour claiming that Bola Tinubu, had decided to assist Akpabio’s campaign for the Senate presidency.

While Akpabio led the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for three years, there were allegations of a N40 billion fraud being committed there.

The Senate and the House of Representatives decided to look into the NDDC’s Interim Management Committee’s alleged N40 billion in financial irresponsibility in 2020.

The latest invite was revealed in a letter recently titled, ‘Investigation Activities Re: Senator Godswill Akpabio’s Appointment Letter Of Invitation’ was signed by ACE II SM Ala, Head, CMU-1.

It was received by Akpabio’s lawyers, Seasons Law Firm, with the EFCC asking Akpabio to come to its headquarters in Abuja on May 9, 2023.

It reads, “I refer to your letter number dated March 27, 2023, on the above subject. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform your client Senator Godswill Akpabio to personally report for an interview with the undersigned through the Head, CMU-1 team on May 9, 2023, at 5th Floor, EFCC Headquarters Plot 301/302 Institutions and Research District. Jabi, Abuja at 10:00 am.”

The EFCC had earlier invited Akpabio to appear for questioning on March 29 but his lawyer, Umeh Kalu, SAN, in a letter to the anti-graft agency alleged that his client was suffering from pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia.

Kalu, while pleading with the EFCC to reschedule the questioning to a new date, had said Akpabio would be unable to honour the invitation on March 29 due to alleged ill health, adding that the Senator-elect had already arranged medical appointments overseas.

A source from the Akpabio’s camp revealed that the invitation from EFCC is a process to reduce him as the favored candidate for the Senate President position which the President elect is already interested in backing Akpabio.

The race is on while the candidates are intensify lobbying, and EFCC invitation is part of the game which we are yet to identify the cabal behind the scene to reduce Akpabio as Senate President, but over time, the whistle will blow.