By Our reporters
Ibom Power Company Limited (IPC), established to oversee independent power plants in the country, has become a victim of “illegal dealings caused by undue executive meddlesomeness” by successive administrations in the state, Straightnews has discovered.
The gas-fired plant was registered and incorporated by the Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Council (AKIIPOC) now Akwa Ibom Industrial Corporation (AKICORP) under Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on 15 January, 2001 and is located in Ikot Abasi with corporate office in Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
However, the company has turned to a tinderbox of sabotage, shocking removal of Managing Director, internal rivalry, “disappearance” of public funds, and irregular salary payment to staffers, among others.
Read also: Akwa Ibom Govt orders operational audit of Ibom Power Plant- Eno
Though Attah pumped in billions of Naira, Akpabio followed suit, yet Udom Emmanuel administration was accused of not “putting” money in the company, according to the newspaper’s finding.
In the beginning
Then Governor Godswill Akpabio appointed Dr. Victor Udoh as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Power to oversee the running of the company.
After the expiration of his political appointment, Udoh who came from US to take up appointment was left at the mercy of Akpabio’s successor, Udom Emmanuel.
A close source told Straightnews that “Udoh shot himself on the foot by disclosing to Udom Emmanuel the secrets, financial matters and operations of the company with the hope that he would be re-appointed.
“Having had full grasp of the company, Emmanuel removed him from office and sourced for another occupier of the office,” the source narrated.
Appointment of Etukudoh
After the removal of Udoh, Emmanuel later appointed Meyen Etukudoh, an electrical engineer then residing in Abuja, as the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the state-owned Ibom Power Company Limited in August 2016.
Then state government went ahead and reconstituted a board with Etido Inyang as the Chairman of the Board of Directors while the Directors are Barr. Uwem Ekanem, Hon. Ayang Ayang, Hon. Emmanuel Ebe, among others.
Etukudoh, a renowned Engineer, had been doing his job until the Governor “sacked” him from the job recently.
When plot to oust Etukudoh was hatched
But, Straightnews discovered a covert plot hatched by the power brokers to oust Etukudoh.
“Etukudoh had had a disagreement with the current Governor when he served as Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources.
“Upon resumption of official duty as Executive Governor, he refused all emissaries and letters to grant Ibom Power Company Limited CEO an audience or courtesy call.
“Rather on Monday, 3 July 2023, the Governor paid an official visit to the company in Ikot Abasi,” Straightnews gathered.
During the visit, Eno said “This is part of my familiarisation tour of Companies and Parastatals of Government, I mean companies that Government are controlling shares. It is just to familiarize myself with those facilities. That’s why we are doing these.
“My visit here is quite informative. I have uncovered a few things and I am sure we are going to correct all of them because everyone has agreed to work together; the Ministry of Power, Board and Management of the Ibom power.”
On 19 December 2023, Akwa Ibom Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Savannah Energy to conduct a technical audit aimed at repositioning the company.
Governor Eno signed for the state government while Engr. Pade Durotoye, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Savannah Energy signed for it.
At the occasion, the Governor said “From those who have briefed me, different people have different views and I don’t want to be caught in the web of any view; so what will help the government is to conduct a technical and operational audit and see where things are not going right or what we should do to get the right things done .
“The audit is not a witch-hunt of anybody. We are just trying to find out how we can move forward. The audit will be done, reports will be made available and we will be willing to discuss it so that we can all fall in line with what to do.”
However, The Guide News quoting an unnamed activist rubbished the audit report thus “Recalled the Managing Director of Savannah Energy Limited presented an interim Technical Audit report highlighting critical internal and external issues hampering the progress of the company as was discussed during the meeting of the State Executive Council of Akwa Ibom State Government held on 3rd April, 2024.
“Findings revealed that the team of Emerson Automation Solution who were contracted by Savannah Energy to carry out site survey and scoping work for two or three days which was to commence on Monday 4th March, 2024 has not visited Ibom Power Plant Company to do anything despite the series of reminder on them.
“The competency, integrity and sincerity of Savannah Energy on their source of report presented remain questionable as technical evaluation of Ibom Power Plant cannot be done by assumption without the team being granted full access to carry out the assignment.”
Unfortunately, one of the remote causes of the removal of the company’s CEO was allegedly linked to a disagreement between Etukudoh and some power brokers with vested interest in the company to turning the money-spinning plant to their “personal estate.”
“Etukudoh was contacted to consent to selling the plant as a scrap to interested political musketeers, but he objected the plan.
“Having stepped on the toes of the “hungry financial hyenas,” Etukudoh had deftly walked on banana peels. His days in the company were numbered waiting for appropriate time and day to be booted out of office,” the source narrated to the online newspaper.
Another remote cause said to be linked to the firing of the CEO was the weighty revelations Etukudoh made at the state House of Assembly during a public hearing.
“This irked government. Additionally, government was unhappy with him for going to a radio station in the state to reel out the financial dealings between the government and the company,” the source stated.
Gov. Eno sacked MD
Unexpectedly, Governor Eno of Akwa Ibom announced the sack of Meyen Etukudoh without any prior probe by any panel or the company’s Board of Directors.
The governor’s stance was made known, in a statement by Prince Enobong Uwah, Secretary to the State Government.
The statement noted that the removal from office was with immediate effect.
The statement read, “As part of ongoing restructuring exercise of this administration, to align with the machinery of government in the power sector, to the ARISE agenda, Governor Eno relieved Managing Director of Ibom Power Company Limited, Engr. Etukudoh of his appointment with immediate effect from November 14, 2024.
“Etukudoh is, therefore, directed to handover to the commissioner, Ministry of Power, who will oversee the company till further notice. The governor, expresses gratitude to the Managing Director for his services to the state and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Govt to probe Ibom Power Company
Speaking during the ground-breaking of Aviation Village, Uyo on Monday, November 18, Eno said, “I’m setting up a probe panel to investigate the activities of the power company, to ascertain why the power company is still running at a loss, and why the company is owing the gas supplier.
“Any investment of government that is not yielding profit, I’ll remove the MD, I don’t care the blackmail. We are determined, it is time that we must reap from our investments,” the Governor said.
“We cannot keep investing and investing the people’s money in projects that are not yielding results, that is not how I was raised,” Pastor Eno added.
To be continued
