Uwemedimo Nwoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, has denied rumors that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested Udom Emmanuel, the state’s immediate former governor.
Nwoko denied social media rumors that Emmanuel was detained overnight after accepting the EFCC’s invitation on Tuesday due to accusations of money laundering and money diversion made against him by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) during a speech in Uyo on Wednesday.
He clarified that Emmanuel left the EFCC premises that same day after being questioned, stating that he was surprised by false media reports that implied otherwise.
Allow them to visit his home to check if he’s not there. He was at the EFCC with me. We all went back home after he accepted the invitation, followed through on it, and honored it,” Nwoko said.
Additionally, he refuted rumors that Emmanuel was involved in a ₦700 billion fraud accusation, highlighting the fact that the matter was never brought up during the EFCC meeting.
Barr. Stephen Abia, the former governor’s media advisor, also denounced what he called a purposeful media distortion intended to damage Emmanuel’s image.
Abia emphasized, “An invitation is not a conviction.” As part of a standard exercise, Mr. Udom Emmanuel accepted the invitation from the EFCC yesterday and left for his house that same evening. Despite untrue reports, he was never arrested.
Emmanuel is a statesman of integrity and transparency who is still open to legal engagements, he added, urging the media to avoid sensationalizing the issue.
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