Godswill Akpabio, a Senator-elect and immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has said he will not honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), to report to its office because he is suffering from pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia.

Reports have it that the EFCC had in a letter asked Akpabio to appear at its office today (Wednesday) over a multi-billion Naira fraud case. But the Senator-elect in a letter to the anti-graft agency through his lawyer, Umeh Kalu, said he would not be available due to ill-health as he had already arranged medical appointments overseas.

The former Akwa Ibom State governor therefore asked the EFCC to pick another date after the forthcoming Easter and Ramadan holidays.

We continue to act as solicitors to Senator Godswill Akpabio and write you at his instance. We write to convey our client’s inability to honour the scheduled visit to your office on the 29th day of March, 2022, due to il health, and, already arranged medical appointments overseas.

“As mentioned in our last letter to you dated February 10, 2023, our client is undergoing treatment for pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia, and, has recently been advised to seek further attention abroad.

“It is in the light of the above, that we respectfully request that our client’s appointment with you be rescheduled to a date convenient to your officers, preferably after the forthcoming Easter and Ramadan holidays.

“This request is in no way intended to disrespect your high office, even as we regret every conceivable inconvenience that our request will occasion on you and your team of operatives. Please accept the assurances of our professional regards, while thanking you for your understanding,” the letter reads.