ABUJA — YEARS
after leaving office, 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 to Vanguard 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
Vanguard learned 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.
Vanguardngr
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