By Itam Offor
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State House of Assembly has exonerated Hon. Cyril James Omini, Member representing Yakurr I State Constituency, of allegations involving the sum of N1.6bn reportedly received from Eketeson Resources International Limited, ruling that the claims were baseless and without evidence.
The Lawmakers’ decision followed the consideration of the report of the Special Committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sylvester Agabi (Obudu), which was earlier mandated to investigate the public complaints levelled against Omini.
According to Hon Agabi, the Special Committee conducted investigative hearings with the Managing Director of Eketeson Resources International Limited, Engr. Donald Ekete, the Commissioner of Works and Finance, Special Adviser, Projects and Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as the State Accountant General. They also invited Hon. Omini who “vehemently denied the allegation of collecting 1.6bn from Eketeson”.
After thorough deliberation on the report of the Committee, the House adopted their recommendations and concluded that the allegations were untrue, unfounded and baseless. The Lawmakers resolved that: “The allegations against Hon. Cyril Omini, Member representing Yakurr I State Constituency over the sum of N1.6bn received from Chief Engr. Donald Ekete, MD, Eketeson Resources International Limited, is untrue, unfounded and baseless and therefore dismissed by the Cross River State House of Assembly.”
The House further concluded that, “Having not been found wanting, Hon . Cyril Omini be absolved of 1.6bn financial involvement with Eketeson Resources International Limited as was alleged.”
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Members observed that, there was no evidence to substantiate the claims against Omini and commended the Special Committee for carrying out a thorough investigation. They emphasised that the outcome of the investigation reflects their dedication to justice and the protection of citizens from false and unverified accusations.
In his comments, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, thanked the Committee for being painstaking in their investigation. He stated that the Special Committee was set up to give Hon. Omini a fair hearing, not to witch-hunt him, adding that the allegations have been proven false and have exonerated Omini.
In his comments, Hon. Omini thanked the Speaker and the Members for the investigation, which has proved his innocence. “I thank the Speaker and Members of the Committee, I thank everyone, and I am not angry with anybody. Today, the report is out and there is nothing like that. We pray for a better Cross River State. We pray for the Cross River State House of Assembly. Long live Cross River State,” he said.
You may recall that, at the plenary of Tuesday, 13th May 2025, the House set up a Special Committee to investigate the activities of Hon. Cyril James Omini following a public complaint which alleged that the Lawmaker was involved in financial dealings with Eketeson Resources International Limited, the company handling the State’s road construction work in Ugep and Ikom.
