Many
former governors suspected to have looted the resources of their states are to
face criminal prosecution. As a prelude to taking on the suspects, who are no
fewer than 31 in number, the Federal Government recently raised a national
prosecution team made up of eminent Nigerian lawyers to review all the
corruption cases already investigated by anti-graft agencies over the years.
Ironically,
many of the suspects left office as early as 2003, while the rest ended their
tenure and lost immunity from prosecution between 2007 and 2015 but were never
questioned by any of the agencies.
Most
of them were reportedly investigated by the Justice Mustapha Akanbi-led
Independent Corrupt Practices and other offices Commission, ICPC, while others
were probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The
Buhari administration, whose major agenda is to eradicate corruption from the
polity, is said to be upset that the suspected politically exposed persons have
not been brought to justice, thereby giving fillip to many other politicians to
loot with impunity.
The
Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed at the weekend,
that all the corruption cases against the former governors were being reviewed.
“I can confirm that all the cases referred to are being reviewed to ensure that
those who have cases are brought to book, while those who have no case are
cleared once and for all,” the minister said.
Plans
to revoke Odili, others’ cases it was learnt from competent sources that the
Federal Government had also begun moves to revoke the perpetual injunction secured
by former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, to pave the way for his trial
over alleged mismanagement of N100 billion by his administration.
The
government is said to be making the point that the judge who granted the
injunction worked against the overall interest of justice as the constitution
of Nigeria didn’t give the judge the power to permanently protect a suspect
from being investigated and tried for financial crimes.
The
federal judge, who gave the injunction, is said to be under pressure to explain
to legal authorities why he granted such an order and whether in his opinion,
the cause of justice had been effectively served by his questionable decision.
The
EFCC is said to be working relentlessly to set aside the injunction, which had
shaken the judicial circles since it was given by the judge in 2007.
The
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is
said to have written to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and
other related offences Commission directing the reopening of the cases.
A
top source in ICPC confirmed that many of the former governors were
investigated and charged to court but that the cases had not made progress,
thus giving the impression that nothing was done about them.
Among the former governors whose cases are
being reopened are President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (Kwara);
factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno);
the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); and Dr. Peter Odili
(Rivers).
The
case files, according to sources in the Ministry of Justice, have already been
recalled for necessary actions. Others, whose cases are being reviewed, include
Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Sule
Lamido (Jigawa), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara), Gabriel
Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Murtala Nyako
(Adamawa). The rest are: Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom),
Achike Udenwa (Imo), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Jolly
Nyame (Taraba), Boni Haruna (Adamawa), George Akume (Benue), Rashidi Ladoja
(Oyo), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Usman Dakingari
(Kebbi), Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi), and Lucky Igbinedion (Edo).
In
reviewing the cases, Malami said: “It is clear that some of these governors and
other politically-exposed persons have not been charged to court, despite the
fact that the ICPC has concluded their investigations concerning allegations
levelled against them, for one reason or the other. “It is the position of the
present administration that these suspects must be prosecuted in line with the
anti-corruption agenda of the government,” Malami said.
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Politics