EFCC denies freezing Akwa Ibom State accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has denied freezing the bank accounts belonging to the Akwa Ibom State government.

A top official of the anti-graft agency, who spoke with Vanguard, said the commission has no reason to freeze the state government’s account since it is already in court over the movement of some funds from accounts belonging to the state.

It will be recalled that reports emerged on Wednesday that accounts belonging to the state government had been frozen by the EFCC, with the state’s commissioner of Information, Mr. Charles Udoh saying the state government will speak on the freezing soon.

However, the EFCC top shot said on Thursday that the agency has not frozen any account belonging to the state in or outside Nigeria, challenging those spreading the rumour to give details of such accounts.

Read also: Akpabio lied, he’s not cleared yet —EFCC

“The case is already at the Appeal Court since they challenged our powers to investigate the accounts of the state and the matter has not yet been determined and we cannot embark on self help.

“So, we challenge the state government to name the banks in which the accounts were reportedly frozen, the account numbers and the amount standing in the accounts to prove to the world that indeed what they are saying is true.

“We believe strongly that some elements are deliberately trying to blackmail the EFCC by boldly lying against the commission all in a veiled bid to drag it into politics. This is quite unfortunate and a disservice to this country,” the official said.

 

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