Ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Media Aide Denies Corruption Allegations

The Media Assistant to the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, Steven Abia, has dismissed allegations of corruption levelled against his principal by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT).

Abia described the allegations as malicious, baseless, and a ploy to tarnish Emmanuel’s reputation.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Abia labelled NACAT as a “faceless group” allegedly formed to extort money from politicians.

“The immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State has been maliciously accused, and we are here to tell you that those allegations are unfounded. I implore Akwa Ibom people to disregard what they are saying. Those allegations are not true. The people making these claims don’t even have the facts,” Abia said.

He further alleged that NACAT had surfaced solely to discredit the former governor.

“We have never heard of that name. You will agree with me that this NACAT never existed before now, so you can’t even trace them. The name just came up for the purpose of denting this man. It is clear that they are people who blackmail politicians in order to make money,” he added.

Naijaonpoint understands that NACAT had earlier submitted petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging a thorough investigation into Emmanuel’s eight-year tenure as governor.

However, Abia downplayed the petition, asserting that no formal communication had been received from the anti-graft agencies.

“All we are reacting to is what you have also seen on social media. That’s all. And we are expecting that the ICPC and the EFCC go ahead and do their work fairly,” he stated.

Abia presented documents detailing projects executed under Emmanuel’s administration, describing the former governor as “accountable, sincere, and a straightforward political leader.”

“This is a man who keeps records meticulously. Every single project executed throughout his tenure, from day one to the last day, is documented. The records are there, and they are excellently kept,” Abia noted.

He also emphasized Emmanuel’s track record, saying, “Throughout his time, he touched every area in Akwa Ibom State. There’s no place that we did not have projects executed. Our people love him because of his impact.”

Assuring the public of Emmanuel’s composure amid the allegations, Abia said, “My boss is unruffled. There’s no cause for alarm. He worked with audit firms, so he knows his left from his right. Let the facts speak for themselves.”