Akpabio’s in-law of fraud

* How Mike Sebastine used Sir Emem Akpabio as a cover of his illegal acts in SUBEB
* He was a virus - Staff
* He is a persona-non-grata in the Federal Constituency - Stakeholders

It is no longer news that a high scale fraud had always characterized the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB) especially ever since Governor Godswill Akpabio took over as the State Governor in 2007.

THE INK gathered from reliable sources that one of the prime suspects and accomplice in the large scale fraud that rocked SUBEB in the State is the serving commissioner one in the state Local Government service commission, Mr. Mike Sebastian. An important source who served with Sebastian during the last board of SUBEB informed our reporter that the corrupt and fraudulent attitude of Sebastian had always put him at loggerheads with the then chairman of the board Mr. Patrick Ndon. The disagreement of Mr. Ndon to be a part of Sebastian’s dirty deals had put the chair of the board in collision course with Sebastian with the Ikot Abasi man said to always be boasting that he has a godfather who will cover him up when it matters, apparently referring to Sir Emem Akpabio.

Our sources alleged that Mr. Sebastian then capitalized on his relationship with the Akpabio’s family as a result of his marriage to Sir Emem Akpabio’s sister Uduak to openly attack the then board chairman using some of his cronies. In all cases reported, our source claimed that Ndon will always emerge innocent. “Efforts to get rid of Mike Sebastian who had fast become a virus in SUBEB failed as he being an in-law of the Akpabios was shielded by Sir Emem Akpabio” an insider source informed our reporter.

Checks by the Newspaper revealed that when Mike Sebastian failed to drag the former SUBEB boss into his dirty deals at the Education agency, he then had to resort to blackmails and character assassination of Ndon. Sebastian was once linked to the leakage of highly confidential information that almost ruined SUBEB but no disciplinary action was taken against him as his relationship with Sir Emem was causing more harm to the education sector in the State.

A very close aide to Sebastian who had been doing some dirty deals for the ex-SUBEB man had in an interaction with one of our reporters boasted that as far as Akpabio remains the Governor and Sir Emem Akpabio, the godfather, Mike Sebastian will remain untouchable, he had said “Da afo udiongoke ke SUBEB ammi mme owo enyie?” The venomous attack from Sebastian on the SUBEB boss was obvious and till the end of that tenure, Sebastine was still at war with the Uruan born administrator whom he fought very hard to dethrone.
This seeming challenge that arose as a result of Mike Sebastian’s high level of fraud had gone a long way to seriously affect the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries and other entitlements. It could be recalled that at a time in the life of this administration, Akwa Ibom State primary school teachers were subjected to torture as a result of non-payment of their due emoluments and other entitlements on time.

A senior staff in the accounts section of SUBEB who pleaded anonymity for fear of her life informed THE INK last weekend that AKpabiomber that was always used as a Xmas package for the teachers had always been fingered by Mike Sebastian nicodemously. Our source explained that on one of such occasions when Sebastian was confronted by a senior member of SUBEB then, the Ikot Abasi born politician is said to have responded that his appointment into SUBEB is to satisfy certain interest and one of such interests is that of Sir Emem Akpabio whom he said gives him backing in whatever he does.
Sebastian is said to have used the money he stole from SUBEB to open some foreign accounts and also prepare to establish some companies upon the expiration of his time in government especially if the new government does not favour him.

Another source also hinted the newspaper that Mr. Sebastian must have gone wild after carting away so much money from SUBEB that he has already began the process of recruiting some cultists whom he intends to use for the next governorship election either for himself or for someone he will be working for.
Political sources close to Mike Sebastian had informed our reporter that the Ikot Abasi born politician who was once touted to succeed Akpabio is working round the clock to get the nod.

But Mr. Sebastian’s aide informed our reporter that Sebastian is not preparing to become the Governor. On the allegation of his fraud scandal at SUBEB, the aide refused comment saying, “that one don pass me ooo”, he also denied the recruitment of cultists by his boss ahead of the 2015 elections.
Mr. Sebastine refused to respond to a text message sent to his line to confirm or deny the allegations fuelling the belief that his dirty deals has been exposed in part. 

Meanwhile primary school teachers across the State while recounting their ordeals rained abuses on Sebastian and his cronies stressing that God will not let those who cheated them go scot free. Those who spoke to our correspondent described Sebastian and his perceived godfather as greedy fools whose end in politics will not be very well. They however called on the new board not to follow the footsteps of Sebastian and his cohorts in order to avoid the wrath of God.