As earlier reported by Saharareporters the legitimacy crisis facing the Yar’adua administration has led to a shift in strategy in the prosecution of former governors adjudged to be corrupt according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
As earlier reported by Saharareporters the legitimacy crisis facing the Yar’adua administration has led to a shift in strategy in the prosecution of former governors adjudged to be corrupt according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Instead of planned mass arrests of the ex-governors scheduled to take place as soon as the constitutional immunity the governors expired on May 29 2007, Umar Musa Yar’adua had warned the EFCC to stay away from arresting any of the former governors, in the place of the planned arrests, the EFCC was asked to send them “letters of invitation” by which the former governors are supposed to explain what they know about the massive corruption that took place during their respective tenure.
A source told Saharareporters that some of the notorious ex-governors like James Ibori have become real powerful force in the new Yar’adua government, the case of Ibori stands out as he is said to wield a lot of influence in the choices made so far by Umar Yar’adua. He single-handedly changed the appointment of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Onovo by giving it to Mike Okiro who is from Rivers State. Okiro, who is a graduate of the University of Lagos is an ally of James Ibori.
James Ibori is also the single biggest sponsor of the Yar’adua campaigns and the rigging project that brought Yar’adua into power through the universally acclaimed flawed presidential elections of April 21 2007. James Ibori made available close to N15 billion to the Yar’adua campaign.
Other ex-governors invited by the EFCC includes Bola Tinubu of Lagos state, Orji Kalu of Abia State, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State(now on the run), Peter Odili of Rivers State, Lucky Igbinedon of Edo State (Lucky Igbinedon also has an international warrant of arrest awaiting him from the South African Anti-Corruption police known as the “Scorpion”) and Plateau State ex-governor, Joshua Dariye (also on the run). Also invited are the ex-governor Ahmed Sanni Yerima of Zamfara state, Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, Boni Haruna of Adamawa state, George Akume of Benue State, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State, Adamu Muazu of Bauchi State and Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom state said to have stolen N35 billion through fictitious front companies according to recent discoveries by the EFCC.
Governors Bukola Saraki (Kwara State), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State) and Alao Akala (Oyo State) were not invited because they currently enjoy constitutional immunity. Also, ex-governor Ladoja whose case was recently concluded was yet to be invited by the EFCC.
According to the “new strategy” occasioned by Yar’adua’s legitimacy problems, each of the invited ex-governors may be allowed to plea bargain if they surrender a certain percentage of their loot. Those who refuse to honor the invitation may be declared wanted by the EFCC. The EFCC has also concluded arrangement to seek the extradition of some of the ex-governors who already fled the country.
As at press time, only four of the ex-governors have visited the EFCC headquarters, Chief James Ibori is the only one whose identity we could confirm as our source would not disclose the name of the others. Though, Chief James Ibori and Bukola Saraki are both leading a campaign for the removal of the EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu. However, his appearance is connected with his desire to get “clearance” from the EFCC so that he can be nominated and endorsed for the Minister of Energy under the Yar’adua government. His case is also complicated by the issuance of international warrant of arrest on him by the Metropolitan Police, who have already visited Nigeria on four occasions to conclude investigations on money laundering charges involving him and his cronies as well as his wife and mistresses. So far, he has returned lots of monies to the EFCC underground, our source noted.
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