Ughelli North Council Chairman Accused Of Allegedly Embezzling 109 Million Naira

Ughelli government officials submitted a petition to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accusing the Ughelli North Committee Chairman, Mr. Friday Akpoyibo, of allegedly mismanaging and embezzling Naira 109 million. Moreover, he is accused of looting money from the civil servants pension fund.

According to the information contained in the petition, the Council leader failed in his duties to manage local government funds and to provide leadership.
The petition signed by the council's Vice Chairman, Mr. Sunday Udin and 17 others, made many claims of alleged fraud and embezzlement to include the following:
The Chairman  and 3 other Council members received Naira 2.8 million to travel to Malaysia for a seminar/workshop for youth empowerment, June 2013. However, they actually didn't and never returned the money.
The Chairman is accused of lying to transition committee members that the Governor told local governments to pay N4m for the sponsorship of the African Local Government network summit in Asaba July, 2013. In reality, the directive was N2m.
The Chairman collected the sum of N2.5m from the council’s account for the fumigation of Oharisi Primary School, in December 2012 when the fumigation was done by the Ministry of Environment, Asaba in December 2012.
The wife of the accused received N1.8 million to travel to South Africa for a seminar of National Council of Women Society, May 2013. In fact, she failed to obtain the visa, but the said amount of money was not returned.
Akpoyibo's wife and 3 other people received the some of Niara 3.8 million to travel to the UK for seminar/workshops for National Council of Women Society, June 2013 but only the chairman's wife and WOD travelled. The remaining money was not returned.
Additionally, the Council leaders accuse the chairman of fraudulent and gross mismanagement of the SURE-P funds - 5.5 Million Naira meant for civil servant retirement pensions. Instead funds were used to buy two new buses, one registered in the Chairman's father's name.
The Council Chair, younger brother to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, didn't comment on the allegations when contacted by Sahara Reporters journalist. However, he asked this journalist to come to Ughelli to see him before he could respond to all the allegations leveled against him.


Sahara Reporters