The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission this afternoon filed a six count charge against some associates of the Bayelsa state Governor; Chief Timipreye Silva who allegedly collaborated with the Governor to defraud the state of 4.5 billion Naira.

The Governor’s associates whose name s were given as Mr. Francis Okokuro, Abbot Clinton and Ikobho Anthony Howells were alleged to have conspired with Governor Silva sometime in October 2009 to convert properties and resources of Bayelsa state amounting to Two billion Naira and derived personal gains from the illegal act with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said amount thereby committing an offence contrary to section 17 (a) of the money laundering Prohibition Act 2004.

The Governor who escaped being charged alongside his associates on account of the constitutional immunity he enjoys as a Governor was also alleged to have conspired with one Dr. Charles Silva Opuala; the Commissioner of Finance who is currently on the run, on the 22nd January, 2010, to convert the sum of Three Hundred and Eighty Million Naira, property of the state through the account of one Mr. Habibu Sani Maigida; a Bureau De Change operator with account number 221433478108 in Finbank Plc with full knowledge that the fund represented a proceed of crime with the intent of concealing the source and nature of the illegal act.

Count three also allege that the Governor’s associate acting in collaboration with Silva also converted the sum of Fifty Million Naira through an account belonging to one Enson Benmer Limited with number 615203001946 in First Bank of Nigeria, knowing the said sum to be proceeds of illegal act. They were also alleged to have laundered another Twenty Million Naira pilfered from the coffers of the  state through yet another account belonging to one Mr. John Daukoro in First Bank with account number 04800250000418.

The Governor Silva gang was also alleged to have conspired to induce Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, with the intent to defraud, to deliver to Bayelsa state Government, the sum of Two Billion Naira under the false pretence of using the money to augment the salaries of the state Government. This offence, the anti graft agency insists, offends the provisions of section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Act of 2004.

Governor Silva whose name was very visible in the charge sheet was not listed as an accused person for obvious reasons. Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria cloths him with immunity from trial as long as he remains the governor of the state.

His associates who are currently in detention have been with the anti graft agency for about two weeks now as the agency secured the nod of the court to detain them. The disappearance of the Finance Commissioner also helped the anti graft body in securing the court’s approval for the accused person’s detention.

Barring any unanticipated development, Silva’s men will be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja tomorrow morning.

Charging is not the issue .what will be the end of the whole noise, where is Ibori ? where are the other Governors ? who is clean ? why must they run to court to stop investigation. which law is that ? that will not allow someone to be investigated on corruption ? Ushhh !

A federal high court sitting in Abuja presided by Hon. Justice E. S. Chukwu on Wednesday 9th October, 2013 granted leave to federal prosecutors to withdraw charges against Dr Silva Opuala-Charles, former Commissioner for Finance, Bayelsa State and 2 former senior Bayelsa state officials under the government of Chief Timipre Sylva.

On 30th September 2013 John Ainetor Esq leading Folorunsho Adedeji Esq for the prosecution applied for a Notice of Withdrawal of the original suit which was filed by the Federal Government in 2010

The Discharge Order of 9th October 2013 which struck out CHARGE No.FHC/ABJ/CR/55 immediately ordered the discharge of Dr. Silva Opuala-Charles (the former Commissioner of Finance) and his two co-defendants, namely Abbot T Clinton (Director of Treasury) and Ikhobo Anthony Howells (Director of Finance). The court further ordered that all sureties discharged and all property documents released to them forthwith.

http://www.urhobovanguard.com/2013/10/24/court-struck-out-charges-against-bayelsa-officials/