Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor, Akwa Ibom State.
* Said journalists did investigation in good faith
By Abasifreke Effiong & Ekemini Simon
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has absolved Governor Udom Emmanuel, Secretary to State Government, SSG, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and other officials of the State of making extra-budgetary expenditure in 2019.
An investigation on open governance practices in Akwa Ibom State supported by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting and Policy Alert, spotted extra-budgetary expenditure in excess of N10 billion.
The investigation which was carried out based on the 2019 annual report and audited financial statements published by the State found that the offices of the Governor and the SSG had spent in excess of N10 billion above the approved budget in 2019 on the purchase of utility cars, fuel and lubricants, and the maintenance of State aircraft.
The investigation also highlighted an opaque expenditure of N1.057 billion for 26 constituency projects, and N3.4 billion spent on “government special development projects”; projects which officials of the State have failed to show their locations.
Two days after the report of the investigation was published, the State Government at a press conference jointly addressed by three Commissioners and the Accountant General, said it had withdrew the version of the 2019 annual report and audited financial statements which the investigation was based on, when it observed a “coding error” after the report was printed.
The government said it published a corrected version of the 2019 annual report and audited financial statements after the error was spotted.
The alarming over-expenditure had stirred a public outcry forcing the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on 8th December 2020, to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate “the issues surrounding the withdrawal of the 2019 annual report and audited financial statements”.
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The committee was chaired by Sir Udo Kierian, leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and former chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress.
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The committee’s report presented at the plenary of the House on Tuesday 23rd February, absolved the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the SSG, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and other officers of the State from the allegations of extra-budgetary spendings.
Chairman of the committee, Sir Kieran said his committee ‘investigated the alleged expenditure of N4.864 billion on Toyota Prado Jeeps and expenditure of N5.04 billion on maintenance of the state Aircraft by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government among other issues raised in the investigative report.’
He said the Accountant General, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien acted ‘appropriately and in good faith’ by withdrawing the 2019 annual report and audited financial statements when the coding error was noticed.
The House of Assembly committee also said that the journalists who did the investigation that exposed the extra -expenditure in the State audited account ‘acted in good faith and intended to hold government accountable.’
The House adopted report of the ad hoc committee, ruled that the audited accounts of the State government as passed by the House of Assembly on 4th June 2020 remains valid.
