…declares document circulating on social media fake
Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, on Sunday, denied asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over N40billion corruption allegation leveled against him.
Omo-Agege described as fake, a letter purportedly written on his behalf by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Nelson Ayewoh, and which began to circulate on the social media since Sunday morning.
The letter was allegedly written by the Clerk on Omo-Agege’s behalf to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
According to the fake letter, Omo-Agege allegedly urged the EFCC boss to commence investigation on Akpabio for corruption.
The National Assembly has instituted a probe of allegations that the NDDC Interim Management Committee allegedly mismanaged N40billion within three months. The lawmakers had demanded written explanations from Akpabio, whose Ministry supervises the activities of the intervention agency.
But in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, on Sunday, Omo-Agege denied directing the Senate Clerk to write the EFCC chairman on the matter.
While describing the letter as fake, Omo-Agege insisted that he never instructed the Clerk or any other person to contact the EFCC to investigate Akpabio or any other individual.
According to the Deputy Senate President’s statement, “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has been drawn to a letter dated 7th May, 2020, purportedly written by the Clerk of the Senate acting on behalf of the Office of Deputy President of the Senate requesting the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate and monitor the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and one other.
“This Office hereby states that the said letter is false, fake, malicious, mischievous and vexatious.
“This Office never instructed the Clerk of the Senate, or in fact any person, to write to or contact the EFCC in relation to any person.
“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to urge the public to disregard the fake letter, same being the handiwork of a person or persons with criminal intents.”
