EFCC Targets More Ex-Governors - More Arrests Planned For This Week.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is bracing up to arrest one or two more former governors this week in continuation of its ongoing onslaught against high profile former political office holders suspected to have been corrupt while in office.

The former governors, who finished their tenure in office last May, are among 20 high profile political persons that the EFCC had concluded investigations into allegations against them and is ready to charge them to court.

A source in the Ministry of Justice, who declined to name the suspects billed for arrest, said at the weekend that this was for strategic reasons, as the commission was forced to change its strategy last week following THISDAY's exclusive story on the four former governors the EFCC had arrested last Thursday.

The former governors' arrest, it was gathered, was facilitated by President Goodluck Jonathan, who sources said did not oppose the EFCC on the matter.

THISDAY had last Sunday reported that the EFCC had secured a fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to prosecute four former governors - Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Aliyu Akwe Doma (Nasarawa) and Danjuma Goje (Gombe).

The commission last Thursday arrested Alao-Akala, Daniel and Doma over allegations of cumulatively misappropriating over N100 billion while in office and a day after their arrest, it declared Goje, who is accused of diverting N52 billion while in office, wanted for failure to honour its invitation.

The EFCC, it was also gathered, is billed to arraign the trio of Alao-Akala, Daniel and Doma this week.

The ministry official told THISDAY that the list of those set to face trial comprises over 20 names, among who are some former governors who had served at different times.

Detailing how Jonathan approved the present list of persons to be tried, the source said the EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri, had prepared the list of those the commission planned to arrest and prosecute, having conducted thorough investigations on the individuals and presented same to the president.

According to the official, Jonathan's approval was borne out of the conviction that it would be in the interest of the suspects for the EFCC to arraign them in court to ascertain their innocence or otherwise, in view of the evidence against them.

Jonathan, the official said, was ready to fulfil his promise that he would combat corruption, adding that the EFCC list became a major test in his resolve to fight graft.

He said the president was not oblivious of the fact that the international community had been monitoring his administration's commitment to fight corruption.

He also said by closing his eyes to the fate of members of his party, the president would not give in to pressure when the EFCC net catches opposition members "who might want to deploy blackmail, propaganda and dismiss any such move as political."

The ministry source said it was after the briefing of the president was concluded that the EFCC boss requested for a fiat from Adoke to prosecute the suspects.

Sources in EFCC, however, confirmed to THISDAY that the commission was forced to review its strategy for the arrest of Daniel and others when the exclusive report by this newspaper was published, adding that the commission came under intense pressure from either the suspects or their associates for leniency.

An EFCC source said the commission was aware of the posturing by some of the suspects that they would use their influence to stifle their cases, adding that EFCC was not bothered as it had presidential backing.

For instance, the source cited the case of two of the former governors who had tried to tamper with evidence of their corrupt practices.

He said one of them who is suspected to have owned a house in London while in office, had allegedly sold the building and rerouted the funds to China.

The source who declined further details on the investigation, however, said at least five of the former governors would soon be charged because investigations into their cases had been concluded.

Others, he disclosed, may only be quizzed based on available information and subsequently placed under close watch pending when further investigations are concluded

http://allafrica.com/stories/201110090082.html

How many convictions to date?

What percentage of the amount stolen since the formation of the EFCC has been recovered?

How much has the EFCC costs - and how much have they recovered?

Sun of god:

How many convictions to date?

What percentage of the amount stolen since the formation of the EFCC has been recovered?

How much has the EFCC costs - and how much have they recovered?

Please we need answers

null!

they had T.A orji in their cell before the 2007 election for economic crimes he comitted as chief of staf under orji uzor kalu. He was a gubernitorial candidate then, he suposedly won the election and the efcc released him to be sworn in. Now, the almighty imunity is covering the guy while he 'kills Abia state.
They were suposed to go after uduaghan when court nullified his election and orderd a fresh election last year, thereby making him an ordinary civilian for 3 months.
EFCC HAS A COMMON DENOMINATOR WITH ASO ROCK AND PDP

D only people they are fooling are themselves;with all d noise and gragra of arrests and arraignments,not a single governor has bn convicted,talkless of going to jail,how can dere ever b a will to convict when they are all enmeshed in corruption themselves.

same old stories, i'm tired of hearing it.action as we all know speaks more than word.so take the action and let the people clap for you.until then your statements remain invalid.

EFCC lost its relevance after they arrested Ibru and kept her in her house under house arrest because she said she had a medical condition,

Since their inception, with all the political criminal elements in this country, they have only succeeded in convicting Ibru, Bode George and Tafa balogun, Notye:: Bode is out, Ibru is chilling in her house as I type and I think Tafa is out as well,

Sun of god:

How many convictions to date?

What percentage of the amount stolen since the formation of the EFCC has been recovered?

How much has the EFCC costs - and how much have they recovered?

Help me ask them oooo

Wat apens afta arrest braggin?

@ poster pls say MORE Ex-PDP Govs To Be Arrested This Week -EFCC

EFCC should actually be disbanded just like our super eagles

[[The former governors' arrest, it
was gathered, was facilitated
by President Goodluck
Jonathan, who sources said did
not oppose the EFCC on the
matter.]]

[[Detailing how Jonathan
approved the present list of
persons to be tried, the source
said the EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida
Waziri, had prepared the list of
those the commission planned to arrest and prosecute, having
conducted thorough
investigations on the
individuals and presented
same to the president.]]

[[An EFCC source said the
commission was aware of the
posturing by some of the
suspects that they would use
their influence to stifle their
cases, adding that EFCC was not bothered as it had
presidential backing.]]

The constitution establishing EFFC seriously needs to be reviewed. In US, Britain and proper democracies all over the world, because fighting corruption is serious business, the institutions in charged with this duty does not need approval of the President before arresting and putting on trial any corrupt person. This issue has been brought up in the past but PDP goverments always circumvent their way around it. It the EFCC should not be tied to the apron's string's of the Presidency. As it is now, Jonathan can fire and hire and EFCC Chairman anytime if likes.

Just one question: when the President has grievous corruption charges to answer to, who approves the list?t

Sun of god:

How many convictions to date?

What percentage of the amount stolen since the formation of the EFCC has been recovered?

How much has the EFCC costs - and how much have they recovered?

Had they do nothing, lie that you won't accuse them of doing nothing, ?

Blame the Judicial system for EFCC partly inefficiency. Imagine a situation where EFCC arraign an offender in front of a judge, but the judge grants the offender bail for a silly excuse!

WHat happened to Saminu Turaki that was arrested 4yrs ago?