A former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has challenged the federal government to seize any money found in a foreign bank account bearing his name.
Mr. Akpabio said the government should investigate the source of such money and also prosecute its owner.
Mr. Akpabio, who is the serving senate minority leader, stated this on Friday in a press statement denying a newspaper report that he had made a secret attempt to withdraw $7.2 billion from banks in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, through channels in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The statement, signed by Mr. Akpabio’s media assistant, Anietie Ekong, said the former governor does not own any property in Dubai or any other foreign country.
“We challenge these purveyors of falsehood to publish the full details of the purported $7.2 billion account and we urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to seize such sum and prosecute the owner if it does exist,” the statement said.
Mr. Akpabio said the media report against him was sponsored by his political opponents.
“People should learn to accept the outcome of elections and stop this kind of dangerous propaganda in the name of politics,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently signed agreements with the United Arab Emirate on the repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen funds.
The agreements have reportedly unsettled corrupt, former and serving Nigerians officials, who stashed public funds in that country.
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