A petition has been lodged against former Akwa Ibom governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The petition titled, “Petition against former Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State for gross and uncommon abuse of public trust” was addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Also copied in the petition were President Muhammadu Buhari and the Director General of the Department of State Service, Lawal Daura.

This petition is the third to be written against the former governor, who is the Minority Leader of the upper legislative chamber by the petitioner, Leo Ekpenyong, who said he discovered what he calls an “uncommon diversion of Akwa Ibom taxpayers” money for the acquisition of properties by Akpabio.

The latest petition, dated August 3, was received by the commission on August 5. The first petition was dated June 8 while the second one was dated June 22.

Ekpenyong further said, “The properties owned by Akpabio and his surrogates are itemized as follows: Eleven blocks of four luxury flats, making it a total of 44 luxury flats registered in the name of Prince Ukpong Akpabio. The location is Woji, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State.

“It is worthy of note that Akpabio owns a total of 27 estates apart from the ones mentioned in our earlier petitions. Some of the housing estates have between 25 and 75 premium units.

“These estates are located in the Lekki area of Lagos; Lekki Phase 1, near the Pan African University, off Chevron roundabout. Others are located at Banana Island in Ikoyi, Gbagada on the Lagos mainland as well as Ogunlana Drive in Surulere, Lagos.”

Vanguard reports that the petitioner has appeared thrice before the commission’s investigators to “adopt the petitions”; backing them up with oral testimonies and explaining to EFCC investigators that he was ready to testify against the former governor.

EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, did say that he was not aware if the EFCC has received any more petitions.

“Several petitions are sent to the commission on a daily basis. Because of this, I may not know the details of the petition. That’s the situation. “

Akpabio was not immediately available for comment.