ANTI-GRAFT WAR : ICPC begins fresh probe of ex-Govs *
EFCC now to concentrate on money laundering, terrorism
By Rotimi Ajayi Posted to the Web: Monday, July 02, 2007

ABUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has transferred the case files of  former state governors it is investigating to its sister organisation, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Consequently, the ICPC has commenced a fresh probe of the accounts of the 36 states under the former governors.Vanguard gathered that the transfer of files was at the instance of the Presidency, which directed the EFCC to henceforth concentrate its attention on fighting  money laundering and terrorism.
It was learnt that the Presidency waded in to straighten the operations of the two commissions following protests by some of the former governors that the EFCC had been acting wrongly on their cases.Sources close to the former governors said they protested to the presidency after establishing that the EFCC invited some of them on account of unsigned petitions. Other files said to have been transferred to the ICPC by the EFCC were those of politicians indicted prior to the April elections.

The ICPC itself said yesterday it was launching a massive investigation of public funds spending in the 36 states today. In all, 90 different cases will be covered, according to the commission’s spokesman, Mr. Sina Babalola.He said: 
“No fewer than 90 investigations are to be launched simultaneously by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as from Monday, July 2, 2007 to cover each of the 36 states of the Federation in an unprecedented exercise tagged Operation Hawk.
“The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, while briefing the investigators selected for the operation said the operation was slated to take place simultaneously in all the states of the Federation.

“The operation to be handled by more than 70 investigators and accountants of the Commission will investigate over 90 cases spread across the length and breadth of the country.“To facilitate the work of the special investigators, the commission has set up an investigation support group consisting of three principal officers at the Corporate Headquarters of the commission.“The group to be coordinated by the Principal Administrative Officer to the Chairman will provide document retrieval service to the investigators particularly from specialised government agencies,” he aid.

The ICPC investigators have already arrived in the states to carry out the new probe into how the accounts of the states were run between 2003 and 2007.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/

Kind of wonder if this is a tactical way to ease the EFCC away from probing the governors as we already know that the ICPC is a lame, toothless bulldog that can't even bark, not to talk of biting

welcomed development.

Hmmm to fight corruption in naija you gotto do it like a bull. The icpc may just treat the govs like nannies. I was a critique of ribadu's style but lets face it, naija without him would be a corruption stench.

The probe that will lead us to no where, yeye thing. This is just a waste of time and tax payers money, what happend to the probe efcc conducted. enough of the probe and go for prosecution, endless probe

some of us go talk say na God put them there to rule; naija people too fear man; this kind thing happen for somewhere like Haiti, those people go burn their leaders alive if their leaders begin thief thief all the money like our own leaders; all of us dey fear, and na so these people dey ruin our future and that of generations unborn as well.

I think it is time we take law into our own hand and teach this useless people calling themselves our leader a lesson. We cannot continue to be going on like this enough is enough. I read how much this people has appropriated to themselves as salaries and allowances and i marvel, how can we be talking of development when we dont have a sefless leader, a leader that can lead by example, yaradua might mean well for the country but i doubt if they will ever let him perform, he is sorrounded by thief and thief and nigeria should not expect anything good from him shikena.

Oh Please! Same old, same old, same old dry gist Who cares?

Am not happy with the way the ases of these currpot Govs are being handled. Most of the new Govs not only met empty treasyry but huge debts and the Culprits are being handled wit Kids gloves. If that is the case then armed robbers should not face prosecution they should be made to enter a plea bargain.

we are moving in circles

Now they are doing their job? maybe this will be the prelude to the merging of the two organization

Biko nu!  Which job kwanu?