Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has been caught in a web corruption and diversion of public funds for private purposes four months after assuming office as the Governor in Nigeria’s highest revenue receiving State. SaharaReporters investigation uncovered a multi-billion-naira mansion currently being built by the Governor in his hometown of Awa community in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
An investigation by SaharaReporters reveals that Governor Emmanuel started building the expansive mansion immediately after assuming office. The contract for the building project suggests that the Governor may have formally endorsed a powerful fraudulent cartel and corruption channel that was used by his predecessor and benefactor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, to defraud the State of several billions of naira.
The contract for the multi-billion naira building project was awarded by Mr. Emmanuel to VKS Construction Limited, a construction firm owned by Mr. Onur Kumral, a Turkish national who several sources confirmed aided former governor Godswill Akpabio in siphoning public funds.
Mr. Kumral was formerly the project manager of another construction company, Ronesans Construction Nigeria Limited, a Turkish firm. SaharaReporters investigation revealed that this Turkish company is a subsidiary of Ronesans Holding in Turkey but had to be registered as Ronesans Construction Nigeria Limited when it first arrived Nigeria in 2014 on the invitation of former Governor Godswill Akpabio. The first contract awarded to the company in Nigeria was the construction of the Four Point Sharaton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
He later left Renossans Construction Nigeria Limited and formed VKS Construction Limited.
Side view of Governor Emmanuel Udom’s mansion
Kumral is being assisted in the Governor’s building project by one Engr. Oliver Ebong. Ebong is the owner of another company called Olkem Nigeria Limited which is basically into project consultancy.
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