How Over 40 Former Governors frustrated N718b corruption Trial against Them

Facts have emerged on how over 40 former governors frustrated their ongoing corruption trial amounting to 718 billion naira.

The case has been on the table of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for over a decade.

Among the former governors that are currently under the anti-graft radar are Senator Aliyu Wammako, James Ibori, Adamu Mu’azu, Ayodele Fayose, Saminu Turaki, Timipre Sylva, Martin Elechi, Bukola Saraki, Isa Yuguda, Dakimgari Saidu, Ibrahim Shema, Kayode Fayemi, Gbenga Daniel and Sule Lamido.

Other are Adamu Ailero, John Jang, Danjuma Goje , Ikedi Ohakim, Abdullahi Adamu, Ken Nnamani, Also Akala and Sani Yerima.

According document obtained from HEDA, Top among the former governors that is case is still pending with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is former governor of Borno state:

Ali Modu Sheriff.

Ali Modu Sheriff was on June 3rd and 4th, 2015, detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over allegations of corruption. Mr.
Sheriff was said to have voluntarily handed himself to EFCC.

He was alleged to have misappropriated N300billion allocation to his state from the federation account during his administration between 2003 and 2011.

Akpabio

Senator God’swill Akpabio was under investigation for Mismanagement of N108 billion

The Minister of Niger Delta , served as Governnor for Eight years. He was twice invited by the EFCC in 2015, over allegation of N108bn fraud.

The Former Minority Leader has, however, described the allegation as a falsehood bandied about by people with no idea about the workings of government. Shortly after the
Senator decamped to the ruling APC, the EFCC in August 2018 said, the case is still ongoing.

However, while nothing has been heard of the N108bn corruption case against Godswill Obot Akpabio who is now serving as a minister under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on August 4, 2019, asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Godswill Akpabio.

Peter Odili

Dr. Peter Odili had a rough time with the EFCC even before the end of his two-term tenure in 2007.

His travails started when the anti-graft agency investigated the finances of Rivers State, and he was alleged to have diverted over N100billion of the state’s funds.

The case was stalled when presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, heeded Odili’s request and granted a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from probing him.

Senator Aliyu Wammako

A former governor of Sokoto State from 2007 to 2015. Wamako who is now a senator is under investigation for alleged abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and
money laundering while serving as governor of Sokoto State alongside other government officials.

His predecessor, former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Dalhatu Attahiru Bafarawa, had on August 1st, 2018 called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate his successor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, over the alleged missing N13.5 billion state fund.

Bafarawa claimed to have left the money in the state coffers at the expiration of his tenure in 2007, but said he was amazed at claims by his successor, Wamako, that the money was missing.

Alao Akala

The former Governor of Oyo state, is in court for laundering N11.5 billion.

The case was pending until March 5, 2015, when Akala and two others were re-arraigned at an Oyo State High
Court sitting in Ibadan.

On June 4, 2018, Justice M. L. Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan dismissed an application for stay of proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal at the Supreme Court.

The application was filed by a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala and the Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Olufemi Babalola. Justice Owolabi, in his ruling, said the stay of proceedings requested for will do more damage to the case which has been pending since 2011. The case is still pending.

Ibrahim Shema

The former Governor of Katsina state is under investigation for N11 billion and N7.5 billion fraud .

The case has been undergoing trial within trial while the main trial is underway.

Bukola Saraki

First in the list of former senators facing corruption Fcharges is the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (PDP, Kwara Central, formerly APC).

While the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) discharged and acquitted him of the 13-count charge bordering on false assets declaration when he was the governor of Kwara State, the Court of Appeal reinstated 3-count charge and discharged him of the rest. Both Saraki and the Federal Government have appealed against the Court of Appeal Judgment at the Supreme Court.

After Bukola’s tenure as the Senate President ended, the EFCC claimed former Senate President Bukola Saraki withdrew N12bn in cash from the treasury of the Kwara State Government while he was governor of the state between 2003 and 2011.

The money was then allegedly used by Saraki to offset a N1.36bn bank loan he used in purchasing homes located at 15, 15A, 17, 17A and four flats on Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, hence the decision of the commission to seize the properties.

Theodore Orji

Senator Theodore Orji was a Governor of Abia state between 2007 to 2015. During his first tenure as governor, there were petitions to the ICPC to investigate
Orji for money laundering allegations brought against him.

Since Orji could not be prosecuted at the time, ICPC detained the Accountant-General of the State, Mrs. Bridget Onyema, for two days and later granted her administrative bail.

The arrest was in connection with a series of petitions sent to the commission to investigate the whereabouts of about N1.9632bn allegedly transferred under the guise of travel estacodes to the governor, his deputy, their wives and families, as well as 23 other persons who were part of the governor’s entourage to the World Igbo Congress held in Tampa Bay, Florida, the United States in 2008.

Orji was also alleged to have embezzled Abia State’s allocation from the Ecological Funds disbursed by the federal government to assist states in tackling environment-related challenges such as erosion, flooding and the likes, all amounting to N7.6billion.

Isa Yuguda

The case against Isa Yuguda remains inconclusive up since 2017, when the high-powered committee set up to carry out forensic audit of all major contracts awarded by the past administration from June 2007 to May 2015 in the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board,Ministry for Local Government Affairs, BauchiSpecialist Hospital, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, asked former Governor Isa Yuguda to account for over N21billion expended by his adminnitration.

Kayode Fayemi

Kayode Fayemi is the Governor of Ekiti State and a native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye localgovernment of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

He previously held the office of the governor of Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014. He resigned as the Minister of Solid Minerals Development on May 30, 2018.

Fayemi was said to have been indicted by the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former Ekiti State Chief Judge and the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ademola Ajakaiye, of sundry financial malfeasance totaling over ₦2billion. EFCC is yet to commence any investigation on him as he currently enjoys immunity as governor of Ekiti State.

Martin Elechi

Martin Elechi is the former Governor of CEbonyi State in Southeast Nigeria. He ran in the April general elections on the ticket of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and assumed the position on
May 29, 2007, succeeding Sam Egwu. Elechi successfully contested for reelection on 26 April 2011.

In 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission intensified its probe of the immediate past governor over some alleged fraudulent contracts approved by his government. In 2017, Elechi left People Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ever since, the ex governor is yet to be prosecuted. In March 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State called on the former governor to return “the billions of naira” he wasted on uncompleted projects which littered the state during his eight years reign as governor. Trial of his case is yet to commence after three years of initial probing.

To be continued