[size=14pt]Nigeria arrests former state governor for graft[/size]
Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:01pm GMT
By Tume Ahemba

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's anti-corruption police have arrested a former state governor accused of embezzling up to 15 billion naira, the first such detention in nearly a year, the agency said on Tuesday.

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to fight corruption when he assumed executive powers two weeks ago from ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, whose critics had questioned his commitment to stopping graft.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had arrested former Nasarawa State governor Abdullahi Adamu on Monday. He served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 in the central state.

More than a dozen former governors and ministers face corruption charges in one of the world's most tainted countries, but Adamu is the first governor arrested since March 2009. He is also a senior member of the ruling People's Democratic Party.

"Adamu was arrested yesterday in connection with his activities while he was state governor. The money involved runs into several billions , around 15 billion naira may be involved," said spokesman Femi Babafemi.

"We will take him to court as soon as the charges against him are ready," he said by telephone from the capital Abuja.

Adamu's lawyers were not immediately available to comment.

Nigeria's 36 state governors wield considerable financial and political power in Africa's top oil producer, in some cases running budgets larger than neighbouring countries. They also enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.

President Yar'Adua, in hospital in Saudi Arabia since November, came to power nearly three years ago pledging zero tolerance for corruption, but progress slowed in a campaign that had been welcomed by Nigerians and foreign donors.
Most of the cases against former governors and ex-ministers have stalled in the courts since 2007.

In December, a Nigerian court dismissed corruption charges against the former governor of the oil-producing state of Delta James Ibori, who was instrumental in Yar'Adua's rise to power in 2007. The court cited insufficient evidence.

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE61M0IX20100223?sp=true

Tinubu and Ibori next.

Beaf:

Tinubu and Ibori next.

Hopefully Yar Adua will stay away long enough for that to happen. Peter Odilli must be held accountable.

was this not the same guy that nuhu ribadu as EFCC chairman cleared him of all corruption charges and said he had no case to answer.

An excuse we call leaders total failure

means only 1 thing to me, some civil servants in one stupid office would get SETTLED; file some stupid bugous unsupported charges and at the end case dismissed for lack of evidence and the idiot goes back to business milking us dry.

15billion naira by a single person? some people dont have heart,

Please na today. Jonathan arrested this guy because he supports Yara Dua.This is simple Nigerian politics.If Jonathan is serious about corruption he should arrest his own wife first otherwise ,these morons should just go fuxk themselves.Nemesis is coming soon and blood will flow.

Ibori will never be arrested because he has friends in high places.

Blackmailing, intimidation and false accussations has constituted major political weapons of our politicians to nail down their opponents. The question is where were these detractors since 2007 when Gov. Adamu left Office?

GoodLuck should tell his wife to handover the $2,000,000.00 she was caught with by EFCC.

She should then be send to prison for 5years.

After that, I will believe him.

when one person chop 15billion from Nasarawa, wetin wan remain.no wonder people from that state always look angry.

Tcrack:

when one person chop 15billion from Nasarawa, wetin wan remain.no wonder people from that state always look angry.

If na you, you no go vex?
Damn!
www.nairaland.com/attachments/180447_ROTFLMAO_gif3d0c775232c7f27cf80592785b9635b6

i think we should start from the Top. those in power who are doing thier evil deeds now, why after they have spent half and left the office. the dude is probably established for life from what he has stashed away.

P.s: lets say a prayer for our country everyday, we soooooooooooo need it.

They'd bera let him go now if they'd do that leta.