The former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir el-Rufai is still at large and has refused to appear before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as demanded, if the web site of the commission is anything to go by.

However contrary to the information available on the commission’s web site, Mr. el-Rufai returned to Nigeria on April 30, 2010 and is currently defending himself at an Abuja High court on a 8-count charge brought against him by the EFCC on May 12. The commission, on its apparently outdated web site, listed Mr el Rufai as number 27 on its list of high profile case. The link, http://efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=9&Itemid=72, have 43 names listed on it as high profile cases under investigation and in court. When contacted on the issue at the weekend, Mr. el-Rufai described his continuous listing as a combination of political influences and incompetency going on in the commission.

“When this saga is over, both civil and criminal defamation proceedings would lie in Nigeria and abroad against the officials who exceeded their legal authority and this will go up to the relevant Supreme Courts if necessary,” he said. “I am retired and have no job left but the protection of my reputation.”

Technical glitch

Reacting to the issue, EFCC’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the error was an ICT issue encountered by the commission, adding that the technical glitch has hampered updates so far. When queried about some sections of the site that has apparently been updated, Mr. Babafemi said, “that section is different. It is the news release section which is updated every day. But I know that there is em,  we are working on the server. I know we have been working on the server for some time now. I think that has to do with ICT problem, it has to do with ICT updates. That thing you saw must have been posted some months ago. Our server is being worked on.”

No value for money

Out of EFCC’s total N28billion budgetary allocation in the 2010 budget, N25million was provided for ICT, while N120million is budgeted for office equipment and purchase of office furniture. In 2009, the commission budgeted N160million for completion of information technology infrastructure. In August 12, 2008, the commission launched an ultra-modern data centre which was partly funded by the European Union grant of $30m; a project which one amongst several other ICT support project in the commission.

Also on the high profile case list are Iyabo Obasanjo, Babalola Aborishade, Ayo Fayose, Adenike Grange, Saminu Turaki, Orji Uzor Kalu, Lucky Igbiniedion, Gabriel Aduku, Jolly Nyame, Kenny Martins, and even Bode George, whose conviction is now almost a year old.

do they update their website at all?