Drama as Buhari’s aide rejects Akapabio’s nomination as minister, gives reason

Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, on Wednesday frowned at the nomination of former Senate Minority Leader, Godwill Akpabio as Minister.

Sagay wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Akpabio, despite his ongoing investigation for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In a chat with Daily Independent, the PACAC Chairman insisted that a government which has anti-corruption as one of its major programmes, should not have nominated Akpabio for the role of a Minister.

He also described most of the nominees as excellent candidates and trusted hands.

According to Sagay: “I am very happy about the excellent ministers that are appointed like Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, Lai Mohammed, Adamu Adamu and Hadi Sirika. I am also happy about the inclusion of the dynamic and highly resourceful Festus Keyamo, who is very young and will add fresh energy and ideas into the team.

“Also, a lot of tested hands and reliable political allies are also there who committed to carrying out the programmes are also included such as George Akume, who is the leader of APC in Benue.

“Altogether, I am happy even though I don’t know many of the names from the North but the ones I know, I am very happy about it.

“The only nominee I am not satisfied with is Godswill Akpabio. I don’t know how he got into the list. That is the only one I have a reservation about.

“You know when we have a programme in which anti-corruption is number one, if anybody is under investigation or not, I don’t think it is wise to include him in that list. But the president knows why he did that. Apart from that, I am quite happy with the list.”

Akpabio first came under investigation in 2015 following accusations that he diverted over N100bn from the oil-rich state between 2007 and 2015, an allegation which he has denied.

According to an interim report by the EFCC, the former governor allegedly gave a bank N1.4bn for unknown reasons.

The former Akwa Ibom governor, however, scaled through his screening without being questioned as Senators urged him a take a bow and go because he was a former lawmaker.