Akpabio’s campaign staff, legislative aide bicker over seeking N700million funds from USAID

Zion Umoh, a former Director of Special Duties for Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 2023 campaign council, has denied allegations that he attempted to collect money from USAID fraudulently.

A verbal fight over the contentious letter requesting USAID development assistance has resulted from the allegations against Umoh against the Senate President’s office.

The alleged letter, dated November 13, 2023, was addressed to the USAID Mission Director in Abuja and asked for N700 million from the US agency. The alleged purpose of the request was for educational projects and programs in the senatorial district of Akwa Ibom Northwest, Ikot Ekpene, which is the residence of the Senate President.

Zion Umoh was accused by Mfon Patrick, a senior legislative aide to the Senate President, of writing the letter by pretending to be the director of special responsibilities to the Senate President. Mfon Patrick called Umoh’s act of impersonation and fraud.

However, Umoh, who had previously worked for Akpabio as the Director of Special Duties, refuted the allegations, stating that he was not the author of the letter to USAID.

He claimed the scheme was designed to defame his reputation in front of the Senate President and the general public.

He explained, “Arch Ubokutom Nyah was the Campaign Director General for Senator Godswill Akpabio. He appointed me the Director of Special Duties and he can testify that my Office had or has no letterhead.

“I did not write any letter. There is no way I would have written a letter demanding funds without the letter passing through the Office of the DG Arch Ubokobong Nya.

“The signature on the letter is not my own. The fake letter is published on social media by a senior legislative aide to The Senate President.

“I travelled to the United Kingdom on the 15th Day of August 2023 and have not visited Nigeria till date. I don’t understand how USAID Abuja received a letter from me on the 13th of November 2023.

“I have never in my life written a letter that has to do with contract or supply and I have no registered company in Nigeria”.

Umoh revealed that to clear his name, he has urged his lawyers to file a lawsuit against the Senate President’s Office.

Additionally, he urged security agencies to demand that the mission director of USAID and the Office of the Senate President produce the letter’s forger.

The senior legislative aide to the Senate President, Mfon Patrick, reacted by insisting that Umoh was the original writer of the letter.

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