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 outstanding travel debt of more than N19.15m linked to the procurement and reissuance of international and domestic 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, counsel to Johnson Ugochukwu of Havilah Global Travels Limited, according to The PUNCH.

The petitioner accused the lawmaker of failing to settle the outstanding debt despite repeated demands for payment.

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 alleged that the tickets were purchased with the agency’s funds at the lawmaker’s request. The petition further stated that, while in Rome on January 24, 2026, Akpanke requested the reissuance of tickets for two of his companions at an additional cost of N5.79m.

It added that Akpanke subsequently requested the reissuance of another passenger’s ticket at an additional cost of N1.52m, bringing the total value of the international tickets to N31m, according to the petitioner.

The solicitor acknowledged that the lawmaker made part payments, stating that he paid N10m before embarking on the trip and a further 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 remains unpaid.

Cumulatively, the petitioner claimed that Akpanke owes the agency N19,154,468, comprising the outstanding balance for the international tickets and the cost of the local ticket.

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 alleged in the petition, insisting that although he had an outstanding balance with the travel agency, the amount being circulated was inaccurate.

Questioning 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?”