There are more than eight former governors who were once arrested and were being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before their cases came to a gradual halt. The EFCC caused a stir on Tuesday when it arrested a former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, in Abuja, over alleged misappropriation of the funds of the state to the tune of N7.9 billion.
There has been a prolonged battle between the former governor and the EFCC in recent months following his claims and counterclaims that his hands were clean and he was only a victim of witch-hunt by his successor, Hope Uzodinma.
Two days later, Okorocha was released by the EFCC, although it was not sure whether he would still be re-invited.
On the listing of former governors with corruption cases with the EFCC include:
1. Former Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji
Orji governed Abia from 2007 to 2015 earlier than turning into a senator.
The EFCC had in November 2018 invited Orji, who represents Abia-Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, over allegations that he mismanaged about N27 billion at some stage in his two-time period tenure as governor.
The money became allegedly diverted from several kingdom and federal agencies inclusive of the Abia State Oil Producing Development Area Commission.
After more than two years of invites, no prices have been filed in opposition to Orji as he continues to enjoy his senatorial role within the National Assembly.
2. Former Kebbi Governor, Danjuma Goje
Goje became governor among 2003 and 2011 in Kebbi State and he turned into arrested by way of the EFCC and arraigned in 2011, after he completed his tenure.
The former governor was presupposed to have mismanaged over N5 billion even as in workplace.
The EFCC pursued the case against Goje up till 2019, earlier than the then Justice Babatunde Quadri of a Federal High Court in Jos.
In May 2019, in a dramatic twist, Goje, who become also strolling for President of the Senate, wormed his way into the hearts of the All Progressives Congress chiefs who advised him to step down for Senator Ahmad Lawan who ultimately have become the Senate President.
Shortly after, his case with the EFCC was taken over by way of the notoriously arguable workplace of the Attorney-General of the Federation and subsequently dropped.
Nothing has been heard on Goje until now.
3. Former Sokoto Governor, Aliyu Wammako
Wammako changed into governor in Sokoto State from 2007 to 2015 but become alleged by way of the EFCC to have embezzled N15 billion at the same time as in workplace.
Wammako quietly sneaked into the Senate and after turning into a senator, his probe by the EFCC has long gone clearly bloodless.
The senator, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, is an APC ally and he performed a key role in President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Sokoto State within the 2019 elections.
It isn't surprising that he has now not been charged to court until date.
Four. Former Bayelsa governor and modern minister, Timipre Sylva
Timipre Sylva, who's now the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, turned into at the helms of affairs in Bayelsa between 2008 and 2012.
The EFCC in 2012 accused Sylva of laundering funds in the nation to the music of N19.2 billion. The former governor became charged for the use of three proxy groups to siphon the funds.
The EFCC started out a court movement towards Sylva while it filed a movement seeking for an period in-between order for the forfeiture of forty eight homes allegedly belonging to Sylva – the order which was granted via Justice Mohammed.
Sylva was also being prosecuted for every other separate N6 billion fraud case.
The former governor then filed a movement challenging the competence of the fresh suit, describing it as an abuse of courtroom process.
In the stop, by 2015, the cases in opposition to Sylva had been struck out, and the houses allegedly seized from Sylva have since been again to the minister.
5. Former Enugu governor, Sullivan Chime
Chime was governor in Enugu State from 2007 to 2015 and he was presupposed to have part of a N23 bilion fraud additionally involving a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The EFCC commenced Chime’s probe in 2016 for mismanaging some kingdom price range.
But Chime’s “leap forward” came whilst he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress before the 2019 wellknown elections.
There has been no replace on his case due to the fact then.
6. Former Borno Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff
Sheriff changed into governor in Borno from 2003 to 2011.
The EFCC stated in February 2016 that former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State turned into being probed for over N300 billion state budget mismanaged by means of his authorities.
He become first arrested in June 2015 and granted bail.
Sheriff also before the 2019 standard elections joined the All Progressives Congress and his case with the EFCC seems to have died a herbal demise.
7. Former Akwa Ibom Governor and minister, Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio was governor of Akwa Ibom between 2007 and 2015.
He is being probed by the EFCC for mismanaging N108 billion kingdom funds. He become arrested and quizzed in October 2015.
The EFCC had long past the more mile to jot down letters to Zenith Bank, Keystone Bank, First City Monument Bank, Skye Bank (now Polaris financial institution), and United Bank for Africa, seeking information at the finances.
Akpabio, amid the probe, switched political camps and defected to the APC.
After his romance with the ruling celebration which noticed him play a role for the duration of the 2019 elections, he become “rewarded” by means of Buhari with a ministerial appointment and his probe was swept underneath the carpet.
8. Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel
Daniel turned into governor in Ogun State between 2003 and 2011.
He is being investigated through the EFCC for allegedly diverting kingdom price range and also for false statement of property to the tune of N211.Three million.
The former governor is dealing with trial on a 38 counts of stealing and fraudulent conversion of public belongings.
Daniel, who turned into the Peoples Democratic Party’s marketing campaign director in 2019, in his present day flow, additionally joined the APC or even met with Buhari.
His probe is gradually being relegated to the dirt bin as his “sins” seem to have now been forgiven.
Though Buhari had promised to combat corruption all through campaigns beforehand of the 2015 presidential election and even after triumphing elections for first and second terms in workplace, there isn't an awful lot to indicate his government is taking the promise seriously.
It is however no longer sudden considering that the ruling APC's former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had in January 2019 advised participants of the competition birthday celebration to sign up for the birthday party in order that their sins could be forgiven.
At an APC rally in Benin, the Edo State capital, even as receiving some contributors of the competition PDP into the APC, he stated, “We have some PDP defectors. They are, Henry Tenebe, Iluobe….Iluobe manner I actually have executed some thing incorrect. Yes, once you be part of the APC, your sins are forgiven.”
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