The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for attempting to bribe the Chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, SaharaReporters learnt.
Sources that spoke with the news platform on Friday noted that former Governor Akwa Ibom and five others were detained for two hours last Monday by an anti-graft agency after Akpabio attempted to bribe Bawa with $350,000 (about N135 million).
It was disclosed that the minister attempted to bribe the EFCC boss because of corruption allegations levelled against him, dating back to the time he was governor of Akwa Ibom State.
According to sources, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, arranged the meeting between Akpabio and Bawa.
Akpabio was said to have carried the $350,000 in cash personally to Bawa before he was detained.
SaharaReporters further reported that the minister was eventually released by the commission following a call from the Aso Villa to the EFCC Chairman.
A top source in the EFCC said, “He arrived at the EFCC office with five others and headed to meet the newly appointed Chairman, Bawa.”
“The Attorney General of the Federation who has recently arranged the meeting for the minister. You remember his bribery issue with Malami himself involving $5 million.”
“He was ushered in at 1 pm to see the EFCC chairman while carrying the money personally. He was arrested and detained, along with his aides, all six of them. It was a call from the Villa that got him released after two hours.”
However, it was not clear as of the time of writing this report if the $350,000 had been released to Akpabio.
