Gov. Umo Eno reacts to Allegations against Immediate Past Governor, Udom Emmanuel
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has publicly refuted the ₦700 billion fraud accusations against his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel. These allegations were made by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking and are currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a town hall meeting held in the Abak area of the state on Saturday, Eno stated, “I don’t know where they get those figures from because it can’t be from Akwa Ibom State; it can’t be from us – we don’t have such figures.” His remarks highlight his disbelief in the validity of the claims made against Emmanuel.
Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, described as false, and spurious the rumours making the rounds that his predecessor in office, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, CON, has a case to answer over an allegation of fraud before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He said the allegations of misappropriation of N700bn is not only false but totally unfounded.
At the the just concluded Town Hall meeting with the people of Abak Federal Constituency at the Abak Township Stadium, Governor Eno said his successor, Udom Emmanuel, served the State meritoriously and deserves gratitude.
Mr. Udom Emmanuel had visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday evening to honour an invitation and despite being allowed to leave the same day and returning to his home in Lagos, a section of the media wrongly reported that he was being held by the anti- graft agency in relation to an alleged 700billion naira fraud under his watch.
Governor Eno, dismissed the rumours, saying such figures and allegations are unknown to his government.
Governor Eno said the attitude of people trying to drag down leaders who sacrificed for the common good of the people, tends to discourage people from committing to service.
“Because at the end of the day, the people don’t show you that gratitude.
“When a man has served his state meritoriously like Deacon Udom Emmanuel did, honestly, he should be honoured, he should be respected.
“And so I don’t see a place for this kind of information that is going on. It’s not correct.
“I don’t believe it should go on. I don’t believe so. So, I don’t know where they get the figures from. I don’t know where they churn it out from, but I can tell you as a sitting Governor, that it is not correct.
“It is not true. The media trial must and should stop forthwith. And we need to dimiss this issue with a pinch of salt”, the Governor added.
He asserted that respected leaders, like Emmanuel, who have served their state diligently, deserve recognition rather than vilification. “When a man has served his state meritoriously, honestly, he should be honored and respected,” Eno stated.
Emphasizing his stance, Eno said, “I don’t see a place for this kind of media trial; it is not correct – I don’t believe it should go on. It is not correct, it is not truthful, and we need to dismiss it with a pinch of salt.”
The allegations against Emmanuel surfaced following the EFCC’s invitation of him on March 4, 2025, for the purported ₦700 billion fraud. These claims arose from a petition that accused Emmanuel, who governed Akwa Ibom State from May 2015 to May 2023, of money laundering and funds misappropriation. The petitioner contended that during his tenure, Emmanuel received ₦3 trillion from the Federation Account but left behind a debt profile of ₦500 billion and outstanding projects valued at ₦300 billion, along with failing to account for ₦700 billion.
Leave a Reply