Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly set to investigate 2019 State Government Audit Accounts

Williams Akpabio - AKHA(Aide), Uyo

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in it's Tuesday's plenary constituted A-4 Man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the  State Government 2019 Audit Accounts report.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey directed the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan to be the Chairman and the Deputy House Leader, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Denis,  as Secretary of the Committee  while Chairman, Appropriation and Finance Committee, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh and the Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Hon. (Dr.) Charity Ido, would be members of the Ad-hoc Committee.

The speaker charged the committee to conduct a detailed investigation into the financial report,  summon, where necessary, all relevant parties, agencies and persons connecting and having anything to do with the said report, conduct an in-depth investigation without leaving any stone unturned and report back to the House within one month.

It could be recall that the 2019 financial report from the office of the Accountant General has generated some controversies in the State due to discrepancies in the figures.

While fielding questions from the press in his office shortly after the plenary in respect to the discrepancies in the report of the 2019 financial audit/accounts of the Akwa Ibom State Government, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Member representing Etinan State Constituency, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Dennis Akpan said that, now that the matter has been laid before an ad-hoc committee of the House, which he is a secretary of the committee, it is inappropriate for him as the spokesperson of the House to speak on the matter. 

In his words, "Gentlemen of the press, the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey,  suo moto set up an adhoc committee to look into the report of the 2019 financial audit/account reports of Akwa Ibom State Government, so as a member of that committee it will not only be prejudicial but preemptive to discuss the issue".

Barr. Akpan also urged the pressmen to exercise a bit of patience, pending the conclusion of a thorough investigation by the Sir Udo Kierian Akpan led ad-hoc committee. "I urge you to be patient for the Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian led ad-hoc committee to carry out its investigation and submit its report. As the secretary of the committee, be rest assured that we shall be dispassionate and detailed in our investigations".