Daily Independent (Lagos)
Clifford Thomas
30 October 2008
Uyo — As Akwa Ibom State Government continues to unravel the exact amount that was paid for the airport project in which no significant work level has been realised, the enquiry is getting messier each day, as there are confusion over the expenditure of over N23 billion.
Part of the revelations of the ongoing exercise is that most of those expenditure were made without the necessary receipts, payment vouchers and documents to support transparency, probity and accountability.
Presided over by Justice Ime Umana, the panel whose proceedings is conducted in the full glare of the public and even broadcast has made some shocking revelations that would attract the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies.
It was revealed that between March 2005 and June 30, 2008 about N23. 69 billion was spent on the airport project by both the previous and present administrations and most of the expenditure were not only shrouded in secrecy but were made without necessary documents.
Accountant of the Akwa Ibom International Airport project, Edward A. Akpabio, who said he became the project accountant in 2006, admitted to the panel that the airport has not received funding outside the state government, even though the state government had explained that the project is a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement, which required private funds.
Also, when the accountant-general of the state appeared before the panel, it was another case of confusion as he could not give satisfactory answers to justify government's expenditure and receipts could not be tendered.
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