I never defrauded AKNC -Aniekan Umanah

Umanah

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah has described as false and laughable, allegations of pocketing part of the N50m meant for Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, AKNC, as reported in some state-based opposition newspapers.
Reacting to the story in his office, the Commissioner said the N50m intervention by the State government, was paid directly into the account of the AKNC and that the Ministry of Information has no control over the said account.

Mr. Umanah argued that insinuations about the state of the Goss Printing press, acquired by the State Government to enhance the capacity of the Pioneer Newspaper being moribund, could not be farther from the truth, as the manufacturers have already done the initial test-run of the machine and would train and fully handover the press to government, after a final test-run later this month.
The Commissioner disclosed that installation of the Goss Community Press is almost complete and arrangements are in top gear for the training of the staff of the corporation who will eventually operate the press.
He mentioned that “contract for the Goss Printing press was awarded by the State Government through the Finance and General Purpose Committee and followed due process, after which Letters of Credit were opened at the Accountant-General’s office, and no third party was involved in the transaction.”
According to the Commissioner, the 500KVA Generator referred to in the malicious story, is already installed in a new generator house and dedicated to the printing press, different from the old generators of the Pioneer Newspapers.
He advised members of the public “to be wary of falsehood being peddled by a section of the media, whose sole aim is to tarnish the image of public officials and incite the people against them.” Mr. Umanah said he would not be deterred by their antics but remained committed to the responsibilities of his office.