As the screening of President Muhammadu Buhari
ministers continue, some appointees have reportedly
failed to pass anti-corruption test.
The Department of State Service (DSS) recently received a
much awaited list of 36 ministerial nominees for security
screening.
While DSS carries on the screening indications appeared that
three immediate past governors, Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi
Amaechi and Kayode Fayemi, have supposedly failed.
Three former governors worked hard for Buhari’s presidential
campaign to and were seen as top candidates for positions in the
government.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the DSS did not clear three
ministerial appointees based on claims of corruption brought
against them before the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and
other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
The source said that the security agency supposedly denied to clear
Amaechi, Fashola, Fayemi because of a series of petitions written
against them over accusations bordering on money laundering,
fraud and misuse.
The insider further added that when the trio appeared before the
screening committee, they were opposed with the appeals and other
related documents attached to the petitions.
They reportedly have received orders from Buhari that any of the
appointees with any harmful and fraud related issues should not be
cleared by the security agency.
Festus Odimegwu, a former managing director of Nigerian
Breweries Limited, and a former presidential candidate, Pat
Utomi, are also among the ministerial appointees that have been
screened.
Those already said to have been screened as nominees for
President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet also include a former
Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a Lagos-
lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).
Also on the list are a former Chief of Army, Lt.-Gen.
Abdulrahman Dambazu (retd.); an ex-chief executive of the
Federal Inland Revenue, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru; a former
finance commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Wale Edun; and a
former National Legal Adviser to the defunct Congress for
Progressive Change, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
According to some sources Falana was favoured by a camp in the
party to emerge as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General
of the Federation.
A top APC chieftain said the Vice President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo and the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, had persuaded Buhari to appoint Falana.
Tinubu and Osinbajo were said to have told Buhari that appointing
Falana, who he jailed over 30 years ago, would boost his image as
a ‘converted democrat.’
It was, however, learnt that Malami was being favoured by the
President.
The APC has three former governors in Ekiti State: Niyi
Adebayo, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi.
“Falana has already been screened by the DSS.
However, Buhari is closer to Malami who is from the
North,” a source from APC said.
Utomi, a famous economist and former presidential candidate of
the African Democratic Congress, had been screened by the DSS
and the police.
Edun, who served under former Tinubu as Lagos state governor,
had also been screened by security agencies.
Odimegwu, nominated by the president, fell out with former
president Goodluck Jonathan when he openly criticised the federal
government.
Odimegwu is also close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Oyinlola, a one-time secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,
defected to the APC shortly before the Osun State governorship
election and he is a close associate of Obasanjo.
Another appointee, who asked not to be named, said: “Although I
have met the director-general of the DSS twice, I don’t
think such visits could be regarded as screening.
“I understand the service has done its research on
ministerial nominees. For now, nobody is sure of
anything until the names are announced.”
President Buhari had in Ghana reassured Nigerians and the
international community that his cabinet is a must in September.
In the lists of supposed ministers, which were circulating in the
media, Fashola was predicted as AGF/Minister of Justice, while
earlier he was supposed as minister of works and housing.
Under the former governor state administration beholden $1.02bn
which signifies 33.86 % of the country’s total sub-national external
debts.
Ex-governor of Rivers state was set to become new secretary to
the government.
Amaechi was also accused of dropping state into massive external
indebtedness by a coalition of non-governmental organisations
interested in transparency and responsibility in governance.
Former governor of Ekiti state was also expected to play a key
role in Buhari’s cabinet.

Source: https://www.naij.com/549532-ministerial-list-close-buharis-associates-fail-anti-corruption-test.html