ICPC Detains NABDA DG, Akpa, Over ₦400m Intervention Fund

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has detained the acting Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Alex Akpa, for reportedly defrauding the Federal Government of N400m.

As gathered by Eko Hot Blog, ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, through a statement, disclosed that Akpa was arrested by operatives to answer questions on “how the said amount belonging to the government could disappear under his watch.”

An investigation by the commission revealed that the money, which the DG claimed to be an intervention fund for the biotechnology agency, was diverted into ‘private pockets.’

Akpa was said to have shared the money with some top management staff of the agency, an act which has also made him face questions bordering on conspiracy and abuse of office.

READ ALSO: Maradona’s Body Arrives Presidential Palace Argentina

The statement read, “His actions are contrary to and punishable under sections 19 and 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“Further investigations into the acting DG’s alleged fraudulent activities are still ongoing and the commission will take appropriate action once they are concluded.”

PUNCH in a further report has it that a civil society organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, had earlier accused Akpa of corruption, adding that NABDA workers had inundated it with reports of the DG’s alleged unethical practices.

Quoting some NABDA workers, HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the Media Affairs Director, Ms Zainab Yusuf, said, “All the acting DG (Akpa) does is to allegedly collect from 30 to 70 per cent of project money and allegedly use it for bribes to ensure he is confirmed as our DG/CEO.

“He allegedly tells a lot of lies on national TV as achievements of NABDA when in essence nothing is going on.”