President Olusegun Obasanjo, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua and 22 others have been indicted by a five-man commission of enquiry set up by Abia State government about a week ago.

The panel, set up to probe the activities of various individuals from 1999 till date, submitted its report, which has, in-turn, been adopted by the Abia State Executive Council.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting, which ratified the report in Umuahia, on Wednesday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Anthony Agbazuere, disclosed that the council, after a thorough deliberation, accepted the report of the commission and the accompanying white paper on the report.

Those he listed as indicted by the panel are: PDP national secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; Hon. Mbah Ajah, Chief Obasanjo, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Alhaji Yar’Adua, his running mate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s state governorship candidate, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Elder Iheanacho Okezie Orji, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe and Chief Allen Nwachukwu.

Others are Chief Patrick Onwuka, Mrs. Victoria Akanwa, Chief Chijioke Nwakodo, Chief Chinwe Nwanganga, Henry Beleogu, Felix Ebere, Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa, Barr. C.S.L Nwosu, Mrs. Nkeiru Onyejiocha, Chief Tony Ukasoanya, Chief Friday Onukwue and Hon. Damian Ozurumba.
Chief Agbazuere disclosed that the report had been gazetted and consequently, the indicted individuals stood disqualified from contesting any election in Nigeria.

The Federal Government had made similar move at the national level disqualifying some prominent politicians purportedly indicted for corruption, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from running for offices in the forthcoming elections.
The Federal Executive Council, which reviewed the report of the administrative panel that considered the list of 135 indicted candidates compiled by the EFCC, however, pruned the number to 37 at a special meeting last week.

Information Minister, Frank Nweke Jnr. said the affected candidates, who included Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some governors, stood indicted and disqualified from contesting the elections.
The administrative panel, headed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Prof. Ignatius Ayua, submitted its report on Monday, February 12.
Less than 24 hours later, Nweke said a white paper committee on the report of the panel, headed by the Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, concluded work on the report, which was presented to the special session of the council.

He hinged government’s quick action on it on the need to beat the deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political parties to submit lists of their candidates.
Speaking on the development in Abia, Chief Agbazuere disclosed that the state government derived its powers from the Panels Act of Eastern Nigeria 1958, which is applicable to Abia State and urged anybody who felt aggrieved by the actions of the state government to head to court for an interpretation of the relevant portions of the constitution.

The Abia State government had, on February 14, 2007 set-up the commission, chaired by Mazi Donatus Okorie to investigate the activities of certain individuals from 1999 till date.
While submitting the report of the commission to Governor Orji Uzor Kalu on February 20, 2007, Mazi Okorie disclosed that 38 people were sent written invitations to appear before the panel out of which seven appeared physically while one sent a lawyer to represent him.

The body’s brief was to ascertain contracts the affected individuals awarded while in office and to find out whether they followed due process and whether such contracts were executed accordingly and then recommend to the state government ways and measures of avoiding recurrence where necessary.

Source: Daily Sun, 22 Feb. 2007

More dramas are still expected as poll date draws nearer. I guess some parties may setup their own INEC

Where else will such news be posted if not Daily Sun?

Can't wait for the current immunities to expire and we shall know what's up with these people, for now they can hide and scream but after May 29, they will most likely be dancing to a different kind of music.

Let the heavens rejoice and be glad!

Everybody should get ready for the 9ja implosion coming soon!

@Afam

I am suspecting that this is a grand design to throw the entire country into confusion. They are playing out a script.

youngies:

@Afam

I am suspecting that this is a grand design to throw the entire country into confusion. They are playing out a script.

I believe so and the painful thing is that they are all taking Nigerians for a ride but that ride may as well be their last.

It seems that these men will rather watch Nigeria burn than for then not to have their way.

Unfortunately, not a small number of even educated Nigerians are buying what they are selling without a serious thought on what lies ahead or how what we do today may ultimately affect what happneds to us tomorrow.

I pray that May 29 comes quick quick so that we can see under what imunity these men can hide and say what they are saying today.

For all I care OBJ is corrupt but for spearheading the EFCC selective anti corruption war, he has already left a mark that no one can do anything about even in death.

I applaud Governors Orji Kalu & Bola Tinubu for standing up to the President.

The bulk of Nigerian Governors are just whimps that can't speak their mind when it comes to the Presidency.

Thier minds are in their pockets. Don't blame them