Group calls on FG to rid the Civil Service of corruption, criminal information falsification

… calls for the suspension of Edet Sunday Akpan

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Justice has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency purge issues of corruption, forgery and criminal falsification of information in Nigeria’s public service.

Speaking Friday at a press conference in Abuja in relation to a case of Forgery and Criminal Information Falsification by Mr. Edet Sunday Akpan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel, the convener, Mr Kabiru Dallah said, Mr Akpan who is accused of corruption, forgery and criminal falsification of Service has gotten promoted and remain in service beyond his retirement age.

Mr Dallah noted that Mr. Akpan parades questionable academic credentials and falsified his age of birth, while his Primary and Secondary School certificates are said to be missing from his records.

While calling for his suspension, the group urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate Mr. Akpan, and if found culpable, sack and prosecute him to serve as a deterrent to other offenders and would-be offenders.

The statement reads in full…

The world has been faced with the most challenging and suffocating experience of any recorded history as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. We stand together in the face of this obvious threat to humanity. We are grateful to the medical professionals and health workers who are at the fore-front of the fight. We salute our own Presidential Taskforce and State Governments for their tireless efforts. And to the media, we cannot thank you enough for your courageous coverage and enlightenment.

But while we continue to battle this particular virus, Covid-19, there is need especially with the gradual return to work, to also tackle the viruses that ail our progress in the civil and public service. This Pandemic has altered forever, the ways things are done. There can no longer be space for individuals who are unworthy of the public space. Because the recovery that will be needed after this period needs men and women with uncommon competence and unquestionable character and credentials.

A case in point is that of Mr Edet Sunday Akpan, Permanent Secretary, who served in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments who is accused of corruption, forgery and criminal falsification of Service with which he has gotten promoted and remain in service beyond his retirement age. He is now in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel. This should not happen when younger people are looking for spaces to offer their services. It is even more worrisome as it is alleged that Mr.  Akpan is shielded by a powerful man within the political system. We dare say that a person who is disturbed by their on stench is incapable of participating in a clean activity and environment.

How can a Permanent Secretary who is stinking with his own criminal records perform creditably? There should be enough of that pollution of the public space!

According to available records, which is being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an unduly long time now, Mr. Akpan parades questionable academic credentials and falsified his age of birth. His Primary and Secondary School certificates are said to be missing from his records. This appears to be for an obvious reasons of their non-existence or to hide a falsified date of birth.

The said Mr. Akpan joined the civil service in Akwa-Ibom State where record is said to show that his original Date of Birth is 1958. He transferred his service to Federal Government in 1999 with the same record of Date of Birth. However, in his IPPIS, he entered his Date of Birth as 1962. This is a deliberate criminal falsification to help him overstay in service.

For the avoidance of doubt, without certificates to authenticate, Mr. Akpan is said to claim that he started his Education at Qua Iboe Science Secondary School (Etinan Institute) in 1965. The first and most serious of the wonders of the world is how someone born in 1962 can start Secondary School in 1965. The implication is that he went from Primary School to Junior Secondary before he was ever conceived. And assuming without conceding that it was Primary Education he meant that he started in that 1965, it means that he began his Primary School Education at the record age of 3 years. That too should have made an entry in the Guinness Book of Records!

These allegations were first made by a group under the aegis of Concerned Public Servants and it is not on record that Mr. Edet Sunday Akpan has denied these allegations. It is therefore clear that Mr. Akpan is allowed to pollute the Civil Service with his forgery and falsification, and appears to be shielded by some powerful forces to stay beyond his due retirement age and escape the punishment of the law against all known Civil Service Acts and Standard Practices.

Two (2) related facts stand out. One, if Mr. Akpan was born in 1958, he ought to have retired 2 years ago. Two, if he was born in 1962, it was practically impossible that he started Primary (or even in some arguments, Secondary Education) in 1965.

Consequently upon the foregoing, we urge the President Muhammadu Buhari, the apostle of anti-corruption to investigate Mr. Akpan, and if found culpable, sack and prosecute him to serve as a deterrent to other offenders and would-be offenders. Before then, he should be suspended. The ICPC is hereby under an obligation of transparent public service to make its findings public.

Thank you for your time and coverage!

Comrade Ibrahim Kabiru Dallah

Convener