The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized a private school allegedly owned by Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, wife of former Akwa Ibom State Governor and current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged N108 billion fraud linked to his administration.
The development was confirmed by a senior EFCC operative, who disclosed that the action followed intensified investigations into financial transactions carried out during Akpabio’s eight-year tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015.
According to the official, operatives of the anti-graft agency recently visited the school—identified as St. John Paul II School, located at Shelter Afrique Estate in Uyo,where it was formally marked “Under Investigation by EFCC.”
“It is correct that our operatives were in Akwa Ibom State and marked a school as under investigation in connection with the ongoing probe,” the EFCC source said.
Findings by correspondents at the premises showed that academic activities were still ongoing, with pupils and staff present, while a police patrol van was stationed at the school gate.
EFCC officials were said to have deliberately avoided sealing off the school in order not to disrupt academic activities or penalise parents and students who had already paid school fees.
A senior employee of the institution, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to comment on the investigation but confirmed that the school was operating normally.
“You can see for yourself that the environment is calm and learning is ongoing,” the official said.
Efforts to reach the EFCC’s spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Similarly, attempts to obtain a reaction from Akpabio proved abortive. His media aide, Mr. Anietie Ekong, neither responded to calls nor replied to text messages seeking clarification.
Ekong had earlier told journalists that he was not aware of the seizure and would reach out to his principal for comments.
The seizure comes months after investigations revealed that the EFCC had expanded its probe into the former governor’s financial dealings.
In August 2016, the anti-graft agency reportedly wrote to at least five commercial banks—Zenith Bank, Keystone Bank, FCMB, Skye Bank and UBA, requesting details of Akwa Ibom State accounts operated during Akpabio’s administration.
Sources at the commission also confirmed that senior state officials, including former commissioners, lawmakers, the accountant-general, auditor-general and leadership of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, had been invited for questioning.
“We have also traced several properties allegedly linked to the former governor in Lagos and Abuja, and further seizures are imminent,” an EFCC source said.
Akpabio, who served as governor of the oil-rich state for two terms, has been accused in multiple petitions of embezzling public funds and engaging in reckless spending.
He was previously questioned by EFCC detectives following allegations of large-scale diversion of state resources.
In response to the investigation, the Akwa Ibom State Government had approached a state High Court in July 2016, securing an interim injunction restraining the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Inspector-General of Police from probing the state’s finances.
The suit was filed by the then Attorney-General of the state, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, who served under Akpabio.
The EFCC, however, has maintained that no court order can shield individuals from investigation where allegations of corruption and financial crimes are involved.
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