AWOOF MONEY: HOW OGFZA MD, UMANA UMANA ALLEGEDLY USED EMBEZZLED STATE FUNDS TO SPONSOR HIS 2015 GUBER ELECTION

Secret Reporters

Whenever there is a case of Corruption and abuse of office by high profile Politicians serving in different capacities, specific High profile Nigerians pop up.

This as seen in a petition tendered to the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on July 23, 2019 , accusing the Managing Director(MD), Onne and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana of allegedly involving in corrupt practices, embezzlement, misappropriation of state funds, and abuse of office.

Before his appointment as the OGFZA MD on December 23, 2019, the former Akwa Ibom Secretary to the State Government under Godswill Akpabio purportedly had command of Intricacies of the State Treasury, to enrich personal benefits and fuel his political ambitions.

According to the petitioners, the Managing Director who contested for the 2015 Gubernatorial election under the banner of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom, allegedly spent over 10 Billion Naira with over Two Hundred Vehicles distributed to Chairmen of each Local Government Areas of the State for his campaign.

Also, he allegedly gave Millions of Naira to all the Party leaders to seek their support for his 2015 Governorship ambitions all purported to be the proceeds from his loot he has amassed since 1999 he came into limelight in the governance of Akwa Ibom.

His accusers also claimed that he acquired over 20 choice properties across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Lagos State, and Federal Capital Territory using different proxies and face hidings.

More so, in the Eng. Frank Okon Final report on the Science Park Project, Umana O. Umana was accused of failing to account for over four Million Dollars to the Contracting firm while serving as the State’s Commissioner of Finance in 2007.

In addition to Mr. Umana Okon is also alleged as acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings. The CEO contravened the law and requirement of the code of conduct Bureau by failing to declare his assets while serving as Director of Budget, Commissioner for Finance, and Secretary to the State Government in Akwa Ibom.

However, the petition sought a thorough investigation of the CEO’s source of income as they are speculations that his expenditure in the 2015 governorship election may likely be sponsored using state funds.

Efforts made to reach Mr Umana to respond to the alligations proved abortive as he did not answer his calls when contacted from our newsroom and also did not also reply to the SMS sent to him as at press time.