Fact Check: Keyamo’s Redeployment Not Because Of Akpabio
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday announced the redeployment of Festus Keyamo from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Since his redeployment, there have been speculations on why the federal government took the action.
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Many seem to suggest that it is because of an alleged rift between the minister and his principal, the substantive Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.
Reports said the rift was because Keyamo once prosecuted Akpabio over corruption charges.
But checks done by THE WHISTLER shows that Keyamo, before his appointment into Buharis’s cabinet, was a Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over Akpabio’s corruption case.
Akpabio had come under the radar of the anti-graft agency in 2015 over allegations that he diverted over N100bn from the Akwa Ibom state where he was governor between 2007 and 2015. He was said to have given a bank N1.4bn for unknown reasons. The former governor has since denied all accusations.
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Further checks by THE WHISTLER showed that Akpabio has never stood trial, neither has he been charged to any court for any indictment.
There may be reasons why the redeployment decision was taken but the statement announcing the redeployment gave no indication.
Sources familiar with the government’s action say Keyamo’s redeployment might be because his skills are more needed in Ministry of Labour than in the Ministry of Niger Delta.
The ministry of labour has been very busy with labour issues in the last two years, especially over demand for a new minimum wage. More than four months after Buhari approved a new minimum wage, payment is yet to begin due to disagreement between labour and the government over when and how to pay the increment.
Keyamo suggested this in his response to his redeployment. He said the president took the decision because he considered him versatile enough “to move around”.
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