Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer who accused Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, of corruption has been arraigned in court for defamation.
Premium Times reports that the lawyer was arraigned before the High Court in Gudu District, Abuja, on Thursday, November 5.
Ekpenyong was charged over the unsubstantiated allegations he made against top officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking on the African Independent Television, the lawyer had accused the anti-graft agency of intimidating him and refusing to investigate Akpabio.
He also sent a petition against the ex-governor and threatened legal action against the commission if it did not investigate Akpabio.
In the petition dated June 8, which was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ekpenyong accused Akpabio of massive diversion of the state government’s funds and called for an immediate investigation.
However, when the ex-governor was not charged, the lawyer strongly criticized the EFCC during a live interview on television. He raised doubts about the integrity of the commission’s leadership and condemned it for its failure to bring Akpabio to justice.
The EFCC later invited Ekpenyon to make clarifications on the allegations he raised during the television programme.
Premium Times reports that the lawyer was arraigned before the High Court in Gudu District, Abuja, on Thursday, November 5.
Ekpenyong was charged over the unsubstantiated allegations he made against top officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking on the African Independent Television, the lawyer had accused the anti-graft agency of intimidating him and refusing to investigate Akpabio.
He also sent a petition against the ex-governor and threatened legal action against the commission if it did not investigate Akpabio.
In the petition dated June 8, which was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ekpenyong accused Akpabio of massive diversion of the state government’s funds and called for an immediate investigation.
However, when the ex-governor was not charged, the lawyer strongly criticized the EFCC during a live interview on television. He raised doubts about the integrity of the commission’s leadership and condemned it for its failure to bring Akpabio to justice.
The EFCC later invited Ekpenyon to make clarifications on the allegations he raised during the television programme.
