Former Governor of Abia and Jigawa States, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Alhaji Saminu Turaki respectivelay, arrested yesterday by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption charges are still being detained by the commission.
P.M.News authoritatively gathered that two former governors were still in EFCC’s custody, pending conclusion of investigations of corrupt allegations levelled against them.
It was learnt that both governors who were invited by the commission to shed light on corruption allegations made against them, refused to turn up while other governors in similar situations appeared before the commission’s officials and cleared themselves shortly after leaving office on 29 May.
EFCC sources told P.M.News that Kalu was particularly difficult as he refused all entreaties to appear before the commission.
This, it was gathered, made EFCC officials to lay ambush for him at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on his return from the US yesterday at 4.a.m.
The EFCC officials, sources told P.M.News, accosted Kalu at the airport and showed him a warrant for his arrest. He was subsequently asked to follow them to their office.
At first, Kalu, in his characteristic manner, resisted the officials but he was quickly persuaded by some of his aides to follow the EFCC officials and not try to create a scene.
Despite this, the former Abia State governor was said to have requested to speak with his lawyer, a plea that was granted by the EFCC officials.
Thereafter, he was taken to the EFCC office in Abuja and detained.
In the case of the former governor of Jigawa State, Aminu Turaki, P.M.News learnt that he was arrested in his house in Abuja while preparing to join his colleagues in the senate for the screening of ministerial nominees.
Turaki, who was elected a senator in the 21 April election, EFCC sources claimed, had turned down persistent notices by the EFCC for him to appear before it.
His successor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, had accused him of emptying the treasury when he left office.
But the former governor denied this, saying his successor was playing politics with the matter.
The arrest of Kalu by EFCC officials finally brought to an end the cat and mouse game between him and the commission.
Just before the April elections, Kalu’s mother Madam Eunice, was declared wanted by the commission on allegation of corruption and money laundering.
The Abia State’s current governor, Theodore Orji, was arrested and detained fro several weeks by the EFCC in connection with allegations of corruption. He won the 14 April governorship from EFCC’s custody.
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