_Peter Akpanke denies N19m debt, says amount is inflated and matter is politically motivated
The member representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Akpanke, is under scrutiny after a travel agency petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over an alleged unpaid debt of N19.15 million.
The petition, written by Ohanele Udokanmma, solicitor to Johnson Ugochukwu of Havilah Global Travels Limited, accuses the lawmaker of failing to settle outstanding payments for international and local airline tickets despite repeated demands.
According to the document, Akpanke engaged Havilah Global Travels on January 16, 2026 to book three Business Class tickets to Rome for himself and two associates. The total cost was put at N24.48 million, with the agency stating that it funded the purchase at the lawmaker’s request.
The petition further alleged that while in Rome on January 24, 2026, Akpanke requested the re-issuance of tickets for two of his companions at an additional cost of N5.79 million. He later asked for another re-issuance for a different passenger at N1.52 million.
With the additions, the solicitor said the total value of the international tickets rose to N31 million.
The agency acknowledged that the lawmaker made part payments. He paid N10 million before the trip and another N4 million after returning from Rome, bringing total payments to N14 million.
“The total amount our client received so far from Hon. Peter Akpanke was N14,000,000 with a balance of N17,794,468 from N31,000,000,” the petition stated.
It also alleged that Havilah Travels later procured a domestic airline ticket for the lawmaker valued at N1.36 million, which remains unpaid.
Combining the outstanding international balance and the local ticket, the petitioner put the total indebtedness at N19,154,468.
The solicitor told ICPC that all efforts to recover the money had failed.
“Owing to the above facts, Hon. Peter Akpanke is now indebted to our client to the sum of N19,154,468. Our client has made repeated demands for the payment of these sums of money due to him as debt from Hon. Peter Akpanke which he has refused, failed and neglected to pay, with the sole aim of not paying our client his money,” the petition read.
“We hereby indulge you to please use your good office to investigate the matter such that justice should be done.”
AKPANKE PUSHES BACK
Responding, Akpanke denied owing Havilah Travels N19.15 million. He admitted to having a balance but insisted the figure was false.
“Number one, it’s a lie. I’m not owing Havilah Travels N19m. I’m having some balances to pay them, but it’s not up to N19m,” he said.
He questioned the motive behind making the petition public.
“If it is not politically motivated, if he has petitioned me to an anti-graft agency, why is he getting across to journalists again today?”
The lawmaker argued that commercial debt should not be treated as a crime.
“To owe somebody is not a crime, my brother. That’s business. If we did business and maybe I’m owing him, a lot of people are owing me too. I’m not saying I’m not owing him. He has petitioned me to an anti-graft agency. Why not allow them do their work now? Why are you engaging journalists again?”
Akpanke rejected claims that he was using his office to avoid payment, noting his long business history with the agency.
“What has political power got to do with buying tickets? Is that the first time he is buying tickets for me? He has bought tickets for me worth over N100m. Maybe I stayed owing him for some time and it made him petition me. That man had no business doing that.”
He also defended buying tickets on credit.
“Which law says you cannot buy tickets on credit? I don’t like blackmailing people because tomorrow is pregnant.”
While confirming transactions with Havilah Travels, he said he had been paying and could provide evidence.
“I will not tell you that I didn’t do business with Havilah Travels. I did. And I’m not owing them N19 million. I’ve been paying. I can show you evidence of the last payment I made to him. So what is all that rubbish now? The person who introduced us together has even told him, ‘Don’t worry, I will bear the liabilities.’ So why is he going to journalists?”
He added:
“I can equally blackmail them and let Nigerians know that when you do business with them, once you owe them, they begin to petition you to the EFCC and all those places. Has it ever stopped me from paying? I know that I have an obligation to pay him.”