* #400m connection
The last may not have been heard of last weekend arrest and detention of the state Accountant General, Mr. Isobara. His arrest and detention came after few weeks of tension at the Board of Internal Revenue where strange movements of security operatives were witnessed. Although it was unclear why the heavy movement of police, men of the DSS and other plain cloth policemen information made available to THE INK reporter had indicated that all was not well in the financial generation status of the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Matters were even complicated when the immediate past secretary to the state Government Obong Umana Okon Umana is said to have posited that when himself and Governor Akpabio met some time ago at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel at Abuja, the state Chief Executive had told him that ever since he left Government, that the state had not generated her internal revenue as it is supposed to.
Not many had known the pregnancy those words carry except some in government who however kicked against the exposure of such words and had wondered what the former SSG had sought to achieve making such comments. Meanwhile, as the state was still grapping the political uncertainty that has enveloped it, the State Government seems to have perfected plans to deal with matters bordering on the finances of the state.
But while all attention was beamed on the Board of Internal Revenue and the players there, news filtered into the air that the office of the Accountant General of the federation, Mr. Isobara had been sealed off in the late hours of last Friday evening. THE INK understands that the Essien Udim born Accountant was however risked away by men suspected of belonging to the Department of Secret Services, DSS to answer questions affecting the funds of Akwa Ibom state.
Initially, no one could volunteer information concerning the rationale behind the arrest and seal off of the office. Staffs of the Accountant General’s office were frightened to issue a comment. When our reporter tried to inform some of them that their comments will only help to unravel the mystery behind the arrest they simply refused to make comments. Few of them only retorted, “Da nyomo adiduk ikooo” meaning they do not want to go into trouble
Checks by this reporter however indicates that the quizzing away of Isobara to Abuja may not be unconnected with some cases of alleged attempted sharp practices just discovered and leaked by a very reliable but junior personnel in the office.
Our source who spoke on the condition of very strict confidentiality due to the nature of the case said, he has been following up events in the office for some times and it appears all was not well with the Accountant General. Our source informed THE INK that the AG himself must have sensed that time was up for whatever game he was playing and then must have understand that he just needs to throw in the towel. Speaking our source said, a junior staff in the AG’s office sold out Mr. Isobara.
When pressed further, our source after extracting total commitment of secrecy from our reporter said, the situation dates back to the recent trip to the reintegration committee of the party, PDP and added that this may not be the first time Isobara will be fingering the State’s account.
Our source said when the Governor and his team went to Abuja for that meeting; he had requested that the sum of four hundred million naira be transferred to him apparently to wet the ground for his easy access to the party Elders who are members of the committee. Isobara is said to have instead of sending the money to the Governor directly decided to seek for a sub head. It was unclear what he wanted to achieve with his initial refusal to send the money to the Governor. But those who claim to know posit that Isobara decided to dribble the Governor around by sending the money to where it could get a subhead. A disappointed Akpabio is said to have been totally shocked as his plans to bribe Abuja forces did not get thorough due to lack of funds.
On return to Uyo, Governor Akpabio is said to have expressed total dissatisfaction and anger that he was humiliated by his disciples at a time it mattered most. The state CEO is said to have invited some persons to his lodge and had rained unprintable words on some permanent secretaries. An inside source hinted our reporter that Akpbabio had to tell a particular Permanent secretary that such person is not fit to be a permanent secretary. Akpabio is said to have raged in the lodge and that despite his wife Unoma’s intervention couldn’t appease him. Isobara is said to have been brought to Akpabio on the Governor’s instruction that is said to have earlier boasted that if he holds the AG, he will personally handcuff Isobara.
Speculations are rife that this could have as well lead to the invitation of the men of the DSS to swoop in and pick up Isobara last Friday. The state AG THE INK understands has since been locked up by men of the EFCC in Abuja.
Spokesman for Governor Akpabio and commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah refused to comment on the matter. He did not return a text message sent to his phone as at press time.
Meanwhile, attempts by Isobara and his associates either in government or out of government to robe in the former SSG Umana Okon Umana as an accomplice in the alleged fraud had fallen flat as checks reveal that Umana had no business whatsoever with the mentioned N400m. The former SSG himself said anybody linking him to the predicament of Isobara is playing cheap politics which will go no way.
He spoke to THE INK reporter Friday night, said he has not been a signatory to any government account and has no personal account that government money comes to.
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