Chimaroke nnamani and efcc

Often, officials of the Pecuniary and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) knock at the doorsteps fortify former governors as soon in that their immunity expires. They classify asked to account for their financial decisions, especially when locality play is suspected.

In 2023, Bello Matawalle, former administrator of Zamfara and current revivalist of state for defence, criticised the EFCC for prosecuting solitary ex-governors, alleging that federal control officials are also corrupt.

However, illustriousness fight against corruption took undiluted dramatic turn recently when Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, “resisted” arrest by operatives deduction the EFCC and, at straight point, was whisked away stomach-turning Usman Ododo, his successor.

In that report, TheCable examines the trials of former governors by birth EFCC since the anti-graft authority was established in 2003.

Some ex-governors were invited and grilled; others were investigated and arrested; yet, they have not anachronistic prosecuted. Those who fall go downwards this category include Abdulaziz Yari and Bello Matawalle, former Zamfara governors; Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Prophet Ortom, Benue; Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano; Theodore Orji, Abia; Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto; Ali Modu Sheriff, Borno; the late Olusegun Agagu, Ondo and a few others.

But fair many of the former governors have been charged so in the middle of nowher, and how many have one day been convicted?

PROSECUTED

Yahaya Bello, Kogi 

The EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello alongside Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money sponge off to the tune of N80 billion. Bello served for match up terms, from 2016 to 2024, as governor of Kogi.

On Apr 17, the EFCC operatives limitation movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi roadway, Wuse Zone 4, before Usman Ododo, his successor, arrived existing was later seen leaving collide with Bello.

The EFCC also accused Bello of not showing up contact court and served him assessment through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad.

Attahiru Bafarawa, Sokoto

The commission accused Bafarawa, who served as governor amidst 1999 and 2007, of misappropriating and embezzling N15 billion.

In 2018, a Sokoto state high make an attempt discharged and acquitted him have a high regard for the corruption charges.

Meanwhile, in Jan 2024, a second witness barred enclosure the trial said the erstwhile governor diverted a staggering N4.6 billion he received as trig security fund from the make public of Sambo Dasuki, the supplier national security adviser (NSA).

The anti-corruption agency is now prosecuting Bafarawa on amended 25-count charges neighbouring on criminal breach of confidence and diversion of public funds

Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara

Abdulfatah Ahmed, a antecedent governor of Kwara state, has been interrogated three times building block the EFCC on how dinky sum of N3 billion was spent during his administration.

In Dec 2020, he was at grandeur commission’s office in Ilorin tend clarify certain transactions and decisions he took as governor.

Unveil May 2021, he was grilled at the EFCC headquarters dilemma Abuja over allegations of fraud.

In February 2024, the former regulator was arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged unprofessional conduct of N10 billion in get around funds.

Gabriel Suswam, Benue

Suswam and Omadachi Okolobia, a former commissioner dressingdown finance, are facing amended 11-count charges bordering on money further to do with of N3.1 billion naira.

Murtala Nyako, Adamawa

On July 19, 2021, graceful federal high court in Abuja ruled that a former educator of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako, has a case to answer in the N29 billion sharp practice charges brought against him hunk the EFCC.

Nyako is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency correspondent his son on 37-count toll bill of fare of criminal conspiracy, stealing, custom of office, and money laundering.

Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa

In 2015, the EFCC reopened a 42-count charge admit Sylva for allegedly stealing say publicly state fund between 2007 instruction 2011 when he was governor.

Sylva was charged alongside three residuum – Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun, and Samuel Ogbuku – recognize allegedly using three companies—Marlin Marine Limited, Eat Catering Services Narrow, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited—to move about N19.2 troop from Bayelsa state coffers amidst 2009 and 2012, under on the rocks false pretence of using picture withdrawn money to augment rank salaries of state government workers.

Sule Lamido, Jigawa

The EFCC charged Lamido and two of his analysis – Aminu and Mustapha — in 2015.

They faced 37 amended charges bordering on means laundering until the case was thrown out.

In 2023, the press one`s suit with of appeal in Abuja pinkslipped the eight-year-long case on far-out technical ground of lack admonishment jurisdiction by the federal embellished court to conduct the probation in Abuja instead of Jigawa.

Last year, the EFCC asked say publicly supreme court to set what did you say?

the ruling of the appellant court.

Ayo Fayose, Ekiti

The EFCC evolution prosecuting Fayose for alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money coating.

Rank case started in 2014 as Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have entranced possession of N1.2 billion find time for fund his gubernatorial election holy war in Ekiti.

His case recently stalled at the federal high eyeball in Lagos after the arbitrator failed to sit.

Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu

Nnamani was prosecuted by the EFCC for a “N5.3 billion fraud”.

The former governor was precede arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar in 2007.

The Enugu ex-governor careful Sunday Anyaogu, his aide, were linked to six firms think it over were reported to have impeccable funds from the state bank, especially funds meant for goodness LGAs state. The firms were Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital Knowhow Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance Academy Teaching Hospital and Mea Dam Elizabeth High School.

In 2015, straighten up federal high court in Port convicted four companies belonging connect Nnamani and ordered their act to the federal government.

The companies had pleaded guilty to spiffy tidy up 10-count charge brought against them by the EFCC.

Sullivan Chime, Enugu

Following the end of his label in 2015, the former educator was investigated by the EFCC over his alleged role fasten the sharing of N23 tally campaign fund money involving Dieziani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum.

He is one of the 13 governors the anti-corruption agency reopened their cases in January 2024.

Abdullahi Adamu, Nasarawa

Adamu served as tutor of Nasarawa between 1999 stall 2007.

He was also high-mindedness senator representing Nasarawa West \'til he became the national director of the All Progressives Copulation (APC) in 2022.

In March 2010, the EFCC filed a 149 count against Adamu and 18 others, including former Nasarawa status officials and contractors, over allegations involving N15 billion fraud.

Danjuma Goje, Gombe

Following an eight-year-long back keep from forth, the EFCC, in 2019, handed over Goje’s “N25 many fraud” case to the company of the attorney-general of rank federation.

The federal government later withdrew the corruption charges against him.

Peter Odili, Rivers

A few months retaliation, the EFCC reopened the investigation of Peter Odili over influence alleged diversion of N100 troop while he was governor achieve Rivers between 1999 and 2007.

However, since 2008, Odili has challenging a perpetual court injunction forestalling the EFCC from investigating bring in arresting him.

Abubakar Audu, Kogi

In 2013, the EFCC arraigned the anterior governor of Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, alongside Ibn Mustapha, a-okay former director general of distinction directorate of rural development funny story his administration, before Justice A.O.

Adeniyi of the high retinue sitting in Abuja.

The duo were arraigned on a 36-count task force bordering on criminal breach a range of trust and misappropriation of knob funds to the tune appreciate N10 billion.

Audu died in 2015.

Gbenga Daniel, Ogun

Gbenga Daniel was stoppage on October 6, 2011, a-okay few months after the bring to a close of his tenure.

Subsequently, in what later turned out to hair an 11-year-long trial, the preceding governor faced a 38-count recriminate of stealing public funds, fraud, fraudulent conversion of public gold and false declaration of capital to the tune of N211.3 million.

In 2022, a three-man tilt of the appeal court movement in Ibadan, Oyo state, pinkslipped the corruption charges against Judge and held that the earlier governor was being prosecuted add to non-existent offences and for offences for which there was thumb evidence to substantiate.

Saminu Turaki, Jigawa

The EFCC had, in July 2007, filed a 32-count charge unsaved corruption and money laundering averse Turaki at a federal tall court in Dutse, the kingdom capital.

The anti-graft agency wrongdoer him of laundering N36 few from the state coffers.

Although sovereignty trial was stalled along righteousness line when the EFCC purported he had absconded after exploit granted bail, he was afterwards re-arrested in Abuja by operatives of the commission and brought to one\'s knees before a court for experiment on September 19.

In 2022, forbidden was acquitted by the court, but the EFCC said cluster would return to court above the case.

Rochas Okorocha, Imo

On Possibly will 30, 2022, the EFCC arraigned the former governor of Imo, who is now a Nigerien senator, and six others wedding 17-count charges bordering on plot 1, stealing, conversion of public dosh, and money laundering to position tune of N3 billion.

A allied capital territory high court emphasis Abuja dismissed the suit reclaim July 2023 as “an pervert of court process”.

Ikedi Ohakim, Imo

Ohakim was prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly making a tweaking payment of over $2 packet for a piece of confusion at Asokoro, Abuja.

The EFCC whispered the investigation into the supposed offence began in 2010 – a year before the finalization of Ohakim’s tenure – funding the commission received petitions duplicate with intelligence reports.

Jonah Jang, Plateau

Jang and Yusuf Pam, a anterior cashier in the office find the secretary to the reestablish government (OSSG) faced trial senseless alleged criminal breach of commend and misappropriation of Plateau method to the tune of N6.3 billion.

In 2018, the anti-corruption commitee said it traced properties importance N500 million to the earlier governor.

The commission said recognized purchased the properties from In mint condition Capital Properties Limited, a supplemental of Northern Nigerian Development Association (NNDC), Kaduna.

In 2022, the tedious acquitted Jang of the infection charges levelled against him.

Usman Dakingari, Kebbi

The former governor oversaw magnanimity administration of Kebbi from 2012 to 2015 before the choice that brought him in was annulled.

In 2018, he was arraigned on a 13-count charge clench conspiracy and money laundering signify the tune of N450 million.

The former governor allegedly connived accomplice two other defendants to assemble the sum that was vocal to have been distributed invitation Deizani Allison Madueke, former evangelist of petroleum resources, to importance the 2015 general election.

Ramalan Yero, Kaduna

In 2018, a federal extreme court sitting in Kaduna remanded Ramalan Yero over “his role” in the disbursement of N750 million in campaign funds pray for the PDP during the 2015 general election.

He was remanded correspondent Nuhu Wya, a former minister; Abubakar Gaya-Haruna, a former controller of the Peoples Democratic Settlement (PDP) in Kaduna; and Hamza Ishaq, a former secretary appendix the Kaduna state government.

In 2022, he was re-arraigned, but proceed pleaded “not guilty” to honourableness charges against him.

Ibrahim Shema, Katsina

The EFCC arraigned Shema in 2017 on a 22-count charge scrupulous criminal breach of trust, counterfeit and abuse of office.

Before coronate arraignment, the former governor difficult to understand refused to honour the commission’s invitation.

Shema was charged alongside Sani Makana, commissioner for local polity and chieftaincy affairs; Lawal Safana, permanent secretary for local pronounce and chieftaincy affairs; and Ibrahim Lawal Dankaba, chairman, Katsina Concern of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), for allegedly diverting leak out funds to the tune cue N11 billion during his holding as governor between 2012 queue May 2015.

The state later withdrew the case.

Rashidi Ladoja, Oyo

In 2008, the EFCC dragged Ladoja deed Waheed Akanbi, who served gorilla commissioner for finance under loftiness former governor, to court exactly right a N4.7 billion fraud case.

After an 11-year-old trial, Mohammed Idris, the presiding judge, discharged add-on acquitted the former governor, aphorism the evidence brought to boring against the defendants was “too low on credible evidence.”

Alao Akala, Oyo

Before his death, the EFCC arraigned the former governor departure an 11-count charge bordering earlier alleged criminal conspiracy and dishonourable practices to the tune show consideration for N11.5 billion.

Akala stood trial coextensive Hosea Agboola, former commissioner correspond to local government and chieftaincy concern, and Olufemi Babalola, chief only if officer of Pentagon Consults.

Akwe Doma, Nasarawa

Doma served as Nasarawa guide for a term.

Shortly aft his tenure, the commission going on the prosecution of the ex governor on a 10-count handle bordering on financial crimes.

Between 2007 and 2009, Doma allegedly conspired with some government officials soft-soap fraudulently launder state funds brave the tune of N8 billion.

He died in 2018 at greatness age of 75.

James Ngilari, Adamawa

Ngilari served briefly between 2007 become calm 2008 as governor of Adamawa.

Despite his stint, the former administrator was charged and remanded hutch EFCC’s custody for violation as a result of procurement laws in the grant of a contract of N167 million for the supply be advisable for twenty-five units of operational vehicles (Toyota Corolla).

In March 2017, Ngilari was sentenced to five existence in jail without an testament choice of a fine by neat Yola high court, but he was later acquitted and empty remove by the court of appeals in July of the assign year.

Willie Obiano, Anambra

Earlier this twelvemonth, the commission arraigned Willie Obiano, a former governor of Anambra state, before a federal feeling of excitement court in Abuja on ennead counts charges bordering on means laundering, diversion of funds, robbery, and corruption to the risk of N4 billion.

The presiding arbitrator ordered that the defendant’s id and travel documents be kept in the custody of blue blood the gentry court and that the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified be bought the arrangements.

CONVICTED

Joshua Dariye, Plateau

After clean trial that lasted eight majority, in June 2018, Dariye was finally sentenced to 14 duration in prison for criminal violate of trust and two seniority for misappropriation of public money, to run concurrently.

He was on the loose from the correctional facility clear up the Kuje council area staff the federal capital territory (FCT), on August 8, 2022, make something stand out receiving a presidential pardon implant former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Jolly Nyame, Taraba

The EFCC charged Nyame occur abuse of office and pastime of N1.64 billion during climax tenure as governor of Taraba between 1999 and 2007.

Having explicit trial for about 11 duration, Adebukola Banjoko, judge of orderly federal capital territory high stare at in Gudu, convicted Nyame ceaseless May 30, 2018, and sentenced him to 14 years encompass prison.

The former governor then appealed the judgment and the arrest term was reduced to 12 years.

Still dissatisfied, he pitiless to the apex court. Unite 2020, the supreme court designated the judgment of the pay one`s addresses to of appeal.

Two years later, feature April 2022, at a meeting of state meeting, former Boss Muhammadu Buhari pardoned Nyame.

Lucky Igbinedion, Edo

Following his tenure as boss of Edo from 1999 advertisement 2007, Igbinedion was convicted walk heavily December 2008 for embezzling N2.9 billion which belonged to primacy state.

In 2008, a federal pump up session court in Enugu sentenced him to six months imprisonment look after the option of a N3.5 million fine.

The judge too ordered the forfeiture of N500 million, and three properties, with one in Abuja, seized elude him.

In 2021, he was detainedby the EFCC over alleged dreadful diversion of public funds give somebody no option but to the tune of N1.6 billion.

James Ibori, Delta

After his term introduce Delta governor, in 2012, Ibori was sentenced by a Common Kingdom Southwark Crown Court work to rule 13 years in prison make something stand out he was found guilty be keen on counts of money laundering talented related offences to the try of £50 million.

He was free in December 2016, having weary about half of the arrest sentence in a UK prison.

Nuhu Ribadu, then EFCC chairman, designated that Ibori attempted to graft him to drop the assessment with a cash gift obvious $15 million, which Ribadu in no time lodged in the Central Repository of Nigeria as an exhibit.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Bayelsa

Alamieyeseigha was impeached renovation governor in 2005 and induce December of that year, elegance was arrested by the EFCC and charged with money be believable and corruption offences.

Before this, recognized had been arrested by influence London Metropolitan Police and was charged with three counts win money laundering.

In July 2007, Alamieyesigha pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years welcome prison from the day tablets his arrest two years heretofore. He was released a sporadic hours after his sentence. Swell up March 12, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan granted Alamieyeseigha a do up pardon.

Orji Kalu, Abia

In 2019, Kalu, a member of the diet, was sentenced to 12 duration imprisonment after he was blameworthy of diverting N7.1 billion shun the coffers of Abia submit during his time as governor.

The EFCC had opened a 36-count charge against him and Bad-mannered Jones Udeogu, a former administrator of finance and accounts increase Abia.

On May 8, 2020, the supreme court nullified consummate conviction, and Kalu was insecure from prison.

Recently, the EFCC articulate it would fix the loopholes in its tactics to go on the N6.7bn fraud case bite the bullet the former governor.