Follow up investigations by www.calitown.com have revealed the reasons behind the desperate attempt by Victor Effiom Ekpo, Managing Director of Cross River State Water Board Limited, CRSWBL, to discreetly sell off a truck load of water treatment chemicals, belonging to the company.
Documents in our possession show that, on April 20, 2020, Ekpo, in a Local Purchase Order, LPO, shrouded in secrecy, authorized Anngold Global Investment Nigeria Limited to supply 100 tonnes of Aluminum Sulphate, 40 tonnes of Hydrated Lime and 600 drums of Calcium Hydrocloride, chemicals used in water treatment. The CRSWBL store received these chemicals on May 11, 2020. The supply came with a one month post delivery clause which has been due and accruing since June, 2020. While the supplier made several spirited attempts to have his money paid, Ekpo, tacitly evaded all possible contact and communication.
On April 28, 2021, a very frustrated Anngold Global Investment Nigeria Limited, submitted a petition to this effect against Ekpo, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at their Uyo office, 3 Akparawa Crescent, Off Edet Akpan Avenue. After EFCC grilled him, he is believed to have promised to make a considerable payment to Anngold Global Investment Nigeria Limited, before the end of this month. In a desperate attempt to fulfill this promise, we hear he contacted buyers at the new Golden Guinea brewery, Aba Road, Ubakala, Umuahia, Abia State. The truck of chemicals was headed for Umuahia, when we were tipped-off and we took pictures of the truck and the arrival of the police who impounded the truck.
However, not many people in CRSWBL understand that, a little above N22 million may have exchanged hands with the MD reportedly making a cool N4 million off the deal before it blew in his face. Those who wanted to buy the chemicals are believed to have made a payment of N15 million to CRSWBL. Coincidentally too, imprest to CRSWBL for two months, N8 million, was paid to the MD at about this time, last week, bringing the total in his charge to of N23 million. N19 million can, at press time, be accounted for, the balance has to be looked for in an obvious place.