Fraudulent Agric loan list * AHKA Suspends Anchor Poultry Borrowers Programme

*Ufot Ebong, Moses Armstrong to appear before investigative ad-hoc committee 

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

It seems there is a silent war that is going on between Senator Godswill Akpabio’s loyalists and Governor Udom Emmanuel men in the State. THE INK can authoritatively report that some Akpabio’s men who contributed immensely to the emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel are not happy with some of the policies of the present administration.

This openly played out last week Thursday during the House of Assembly plenary session when the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency (Akpabio’s LGA), verbally attacked some of the programmes and policies of Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration.

One of the Udom’s programmes that was totally condemned by Akpabio’s representative is the procedures that led to the publishing of list of the first set of beneficiaries of Poultry Anchor Borrowers’ Program Empowerment Scheme, an empowerment scheme of the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Hon. Nse Ntuen, who drew the attention of the House under Matters of Urgent Public Importance to the list published on some State based tabloids which had over 3,800 names, alleged that the entire process of the selection of the names of the beneficiaries was a fraud and was not transparent in anyway. 

Ntuen, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, said that he decided to bring the matter to the floor of the House following series of petitions that he has received from his constituents in particular and Akwa Ibom people in general since the publication of the list on some State based Newspapers. 

The House Committee on Agriculture Chairman, who raised the alarm over some observed irregularities in the selection process of beneficiaries for the loan scheme, noted that the entire list was made up of some top government factionaries of Udom Emmanuel administration who are not farmers. He also maintained that the entire names on the list were from one or two Local government Areas and by so doing, sidelining other local Government Areas from the process.

Hon. Nse Ntuen said he was surprised to see newspaper publications that over 3,800 indigenes of the State have been selected to benefit from the Poultry Anchor Borrowers Programme, an empowerment programme of government, and expressed regrets that due process was not followed in the selection of beneficiaries. 

Furthermore in his prayers, the Essien Udim lawmaker submitted that the House of Assembly should invite the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process, Mr. Ufot Ebong, the Personal Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr. Moses Armstrong as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource to appear before the plenary of the House for explanations. 

According to Nse Ntuen, “We want to put a stop to this. The entire process was not transparent and the selection process was towards one or two Local Government Areas. Mr. Speaker, if you look at this list, there are multiple repetitions of names. So we must correct the wrong doings of this present administration.”

Also, the lawmaker added that the House should call for the suspension of the process, pending the verification of the identity of the beneficiaries of the loan.

He however questioned the criteria the beneficiaries were selected, alleging that there was no transparency in the entire process even as he described the program as a fraud. 

Also speaking, the House Leader, Hon. Udo Kieran expressed disappointment over the list, alleging the list was totally a way of defrauding Akwa Ibom people and that those behind the act should be ready to face the penalty, adding that the list was fraudulently published without any authorized signature on it. In his words, “There was no reflection of truth in the entire process.” The House Leader particularly took time to point out the multiple repetitions of names on the list, describing it as wrong.

The member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency, Hon. Aniekan Uko, while also speaking on the matter, suggested that the House should summon those concerned to appear before the House of Assembly.

“It is a clear intension of extorting money from Akwa Ibom people. I can recalled that recently, one of my constituents came to brief me that he was interested in collecting the loan, but Moses Armstrong told him that he should go to a bank and pay some certain amount before his name would be shortlisted.” 

Also faulting as well as questioning the formation of the list were: the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Felicia Bassey, Chief Whip, Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Hon. Mfon Ekong, Hon. Mark Esset, Hon. Idongesit Ituen, Hon. Otobong Akpan, Hon. Otobong Ndem, Hon. Aniefiok Dennis, Hon. Effiong Bassey, Hon. Elder Friday Iwok among others.

However, after all contributions from the lawmakers, the House ordered the immediate suspension of the implementation process of the Scheme.

The House, in a resolution, directed that the disbursement and implementation of the Scheme be suspended until after the conclusion of investigation and action taken at plenary.

A seven member ad-hoc committee headed by Hon. Idongesit Ituen was mandated by the House to conduct an investigative hearing into the matter. Hon. Nse Ntuen was made the Deputy Chairman of the committee while, Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan, Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh, Hon. Samuel Ufuo and Hon. Mrs. Mfon Ekong are to serve as members. 

According to the Speaker, Hon. Onofiok Luke, the committee’s investigation will border on the disbursement and implementation of the programme. The terms of reference to the committee include; to investigate and determine the source of the publication of over 3,800 names of acclaimed beneficiaries, to ascertain whether due process was followed in the selection process; and whether the list of beneficiaries represents the composition of the State in proportionate manner.

The committee which has two weeks duration to submit its report is also mandated to determine the source of funding, and as well recommend sanctions for any public officer found to have erred in the process for the House to invite the government officials responsible for the observed irregularities in the selection for questioning.

Speaker Luke explained that the legislature was empowered by the constitution to carry out investigation on any matter brought before it in line with section 121 of the Nigerian constitution. 

But chatting with THE INK reporter, one of the lawmakers who pleaded his name not to be mentioned on print, hinted that the House of Assembly members are not happy with the attitude of the Governor who has always been carrying out some decisions and programmes in the State without consulting the lawmakers for slots and contributions.

He blamed Udom for their reaction during the plenary session, adding that if the House dose put to a stop or caution the Governor, the Governor will continue to sideline them which he said is not good with them as people’s representatives. 

Meanwhile, THE INK gathered over the weekend from a reliable source that Governor Udom Emmanuel instructed his Senior Special Assistant on Technical Matters and Due Process, Mr. Ufot Ebong to carry out the loan process without liaising with members of the House of Assembly.