Enugu Indigenes Demand Efcc Take Tough Stance On Nnamani.

Protesters insist on trial of ex-governor Nnamani by EFCC

By Adelani Adepegba, Enugu

Published: Thursday, 28 Jun 2007

Protesters on Wednesday besieged the Enugu office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, demanding the prosecution of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.

The protesters, comprising mostly members of civil society groups, sacked state civil servants and commercial motorcyclists, said that Nnamani ought not to enjoy plea bargaining. They, therefore, asked the EFCC to immediately arrest the former governor and prosecute him in accordance with the law.

The protesters also insisted that those who were indicted along with Nnamani should be apprehended and prosecuted. Before arriving at the EFCC office, they had demonstrated through some streets in Enugu with placards, some of which read, ‘Nnamani is an enemy of Enugu State’ and ‘No to plea bargain option.’

A statement by the protesters said they were worried that a planned reception for the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, and other federal legislators from the state was ‘a camouflage to receive and celebrate the indicted returnee ex-governor.’

The statement reads, “We have nothing against the cabal of morally bankrupt men and women engaging in their usual and familiar hollow ritual of social masturbation and celebration of emptiness.

“But we are constrained to blow the whistle on fraud for the benefit of credible elements from across Nigeria who may be cajoled or bamboozled into being part of this festival of the absurd or furthermore deceived into believing that it is in our people‘s culture to celebrate crimes and criminals on one side, and frauds and fraudsters on another.”

They also asked the EFCC to appoint credible and respected persons to manage the seized property of the former governor.

The EFCC South-East Zonal Director (Prosecution), Mr. Hyacinth Edozie, who addressed the protesters, said that the commission had not backed down on its desire to prosecute indicted former governors.

He added that the anti-graft agency had ‘not finished’ with Nnamani as his case was still receiving attention.

Edozie, who also explained that the commission had not entered into any deal with the indicted former governors, asked Nigerians to watch whether it would prosecute them or not.

He said, ”There are many ways to kill a rat and there is no way any person indicted by the EFCC will be allowed to go scot-free.

“What you people should do now is to be patient with us. We shall rise to the challenge and due process will be followed.”

The civil society groups included the Civil Liberties Organisation, the Centre for Democracy and Good Governance and the Tropical Watch.

Nnamani was in February 2007 arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for allegedly owning 172 houses. He is also facing money laundering charges brought against him by the EFCC.

Shortly before May 29, 2007, he travelled out of the country, thereby sparking off rumours that he had fled to avoid an arrest by the EFCC.

While abroad, the anti-corruption agency obtained a court order to freeze his foreign accounts and confiscate the 32 houses belonging to him.

Nnamani returned to the country this month and on Tuesday took an oath as a senator.

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