By Nsikak Umanah
The Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel, has approved the immediate suspension from office, one of his very close and trusted media aide, Mr Emmanuel Nicholas aka White Bom Bom, on alleged fraudulent activities.
A statement issued from the office of the Secretary to the State Government and signed by the SSG, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, said the suspended media aide “will remain suspended until investigations are completed by security agencies and he is cleared of the allegations”.
The suspension letter reads inter alia : “I am directed to announce the immediate suspension of Mr. Emmanuel Nicholas from his duties as a Special Assistant to the Governor. This is as a result of allegations of fraudulent activities leveled against him.
“Mr. Nicholas will remain suspended until investigations are completed by security agencies and he is cleared of the allegations”.
According to another version of the travail of the suspended media aide, as published by Morenews.com, “Nicholas, who was a close ally to the governor’s Chief of Staff and Supervising Commissioner for Works, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, was arrested on Wednesday, July 15, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital for allegedly defrauding innocent people under the guise of providing orders of project and letter of award of contracts for them at the Ministry of Works. Sources told Morenews that the the suspended SA also went round collecting money to the tune of about 500 million naira from contractors handling government projects to buy a car as a gift for the governor’s wife, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel on her recent birthday celebration and other sundry matters.
It was also revealed that after the contribution of the money, Nicholas was nowhere to be found with the money till the matter was reported to the police who launched investigation into the matter and arrested him.
The source also told Morenews that Emmanuel Nicholas used part of the money to buy a car worth 17 million naira for one of his girl friends in Ikot Ekpene, who has since been tracked down by the police with the car.
Police sources said the suspect was found with a fake AKSG identity card in his possession which he allegedly used to deceive his victims.
The State Police command spokesman said Emmanuel confessed to the crime, adding that detectives also discovered he was running an illegal works facility at his premises.
“Other items recovered include works office equipment and fake documents. The command is advising the public, especially job seekers, to be mindful of the activities of such scammers to avoid falling prey to their antics.
“An investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Supervising Commissioner of Works and Chief of Staff to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen has reportedly promised that he will never interfere in the investigation currently carried out by the police on the matter.
The Commissioner made the pledge on Thursday, while speaking to the press.
He, therefore, urged Akwa Ibom People to join Governor Udom’s administration to free the state of criminality and corruption in governance.
Leave a Reply