Akwa Ibom Governor Emmanuel Udom |
Akwa Ibom State government has described as untrue and unfounded report by Managing Director, Rock Marine Services Limited, Mr. Essien Elijah, that officials of the state government obtained N184,235,450.89 under false pretence of concessioning the marine terminal at Oron.
In a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh and made available to newsmen in Uyo yesterday, the state wondered why Elijah had to keep such alleged fraud until now.
The commissioner, who said he was not surprised at such unwarranted and spurious allegation, especially as election period was just by the corner, stressed that the government under Udom Emmanuel was ready at anytime to put the records of such allegations straight.
“The Akwa Ibom State Government is in no way committed or indebted to Rock Marine Services.
The said allegation is a desperate attempt by Rock Marine Services to slander the state government in a bid to circumvent due process and unduly influence the legal process.
“That Rock Marine approached the state government for the concessioning of the marine terminal at Oron, but was unable to show adequate proof of capacity to embark on a project of such magnitude, including proof of funds and evidence of competence and technical partnership.
“That the state government has petitioned Rock Marine Services to the EFCC for thorough investigation and prosecution,” the statement said.
According to the commissioner, the managing director of Rock Marine Services Limited had earlier written to the EFCC alleging that he was swindled by the state government officials, but after due investigations and having found nothing incriminating on the part of the state government, the EFCC was said to have exonerated the government but rather subjected the managing director of the firm to investigations.
In a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh and made available to newsmen in Uyo yesterday, the state wondered why Elijah had to keep such alleged fraud until now.
The commissioner, who said he was not surprised at such unwarranted and spurious allegation, especially as election period was just by the corner, stressed that the government under Udom Emmanuel was ready at anytime to put the records of such allegations straight.
“The Akwa Ibom State Government is in no way committed or indebted to Rock Marine Services.
The said allegation is a desperate attempt by Rock Marine Services to slander the state government in a bid to circumvent due process and unduly influence the legal process.
“That Rock Marine approached the state government for the concessioning of the marine terminal at Oron, but was unable to show adequate proof of capacity to embark on a project of such magnitude, including proof of funds and evidence of competence and technical partnership.
“That the state government has petitioned Rock Marine Services to the EFCC for thorough investigation and prosecution,” the statement said.
According to the commissioner, the managing director of Rock Marine Services Limited had earlier written to the EFCC alleging that he was swindled by the state government officials, but after due investigations and having found nothing incriminating on the part of the state government, the EFCC was said to have exonerated the government but rather subjected the managing director of the firm to investigations.
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