A member of the House of Representatives representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency of Cross River State, Peter Akpanke, has been petitioned over an alleged unpaid travel debt of more than N19.15m arising from the procurement and reissuance of international and local airline tickets.
The petition, addressed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and obtained by our correspondent, was written by Ohanele Udokanmma, solicitor to Johnson Ugochukwu of Havilah Global Travels Limited, who accused the lawmaker of failing to settle outstanding payments despite repeated demands.
According to the petition, Akpanke engaged the travel agency on January 16, 2026, to procure three Business Class airline tickets to Rome for himself and two associates at a total cost of N24.48m.
The solicitor stated that the tickets were purchased with the agency’s funds at the request of the lawmaker. The petition further alleged that while in Rome on January 24, 2026, Akpanke requested the reissuance of the tickets for two of his companions at an additional cost of N5.79m.
It added that he subsequently requested the reissuance of another passenger’s ticket at a further cost of N1.52m. According to the petitioner, the total value of the international tickets rose to N31m.
The solicitor, however, acknowledged that the lawmaker made part payments, stating that he paid N10m before embarking on the trip and another N4m upon his return from Rome, bringing the total amount paid to N14m.
The petition stated, “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.”
It also alleged that the travel agency later procured an additional local airline ticket for the lawmaker valued at N1.36m, which also remains unpaid. Cumulatively, comprising the outstanding international ticket balance and the local ticket, the petitioner claimed that Akpanke is indebted to the agency in the sum of N19,154,468.
The petition further alleged that all efforts to recover the debt had failed. The solicitor wrote, “Owing to the above facts, Hon. Peter Akpanke is now indebted to our client in 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 solicitor urged the authorities to investigate the matter, saying, “We hereby indulge you to please use your good office to investigate the matter such that justice should be done.”
When contacted, Akpanke denied owing Havilah Travels the N19.15m claimed in the petition, insisting that while he had an outstanding balance with the travel agency, the figure being circulated was false.
Speaking on the possible motive behind the petition, the lawmaker said, “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?”
He added, “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.”
Akpanke argued that having an outstanding business obligation was not a criminal offence, stressing that commercial debts should not automatically be portrayed as wrongdoing.
“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?” he said.
Rejecting suggestions that he had used his political position to avoid payment, the federal lawmaker maintained that he had enjoyed a longstanding business relationship with the travel 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,” Akpanke said.
He further defended the practice of purchasing airline tickets on credit, saying, “Which law says you cannot buy tickets on credit? I don’t like blackmailing people because tomorrow is pregnant.”
While admitting that he had transacted with Havilah Travels, Akpanke insisted he had been making payments and could provide proof.
“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 said.
He warned that he could also publicise his experience with the agency, adding, “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.”
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