http://www.thisdayonline.com/
EFCC Gets Fiat to Try 4 Ex-governors

By Olawale Olaleye and Davidson Iriekpen
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN), has given the go-ahead to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to try four former governors for various offences they allegedly committed while in office.
It was gathered yesterday that the former governors—Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Adebayo Alao-Akala(Oyo), Muhammadu Goje (Gombe) and Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), were among the nine governors being probed by the anti-graft agency, especially since their exit from power last May.


Under the 1999 Constitution, the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors enjoy immunity from prosecution while in office.


The other former governors the EFCC is probing are Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, Ibrahim Shinkafi of Zamfara State and Modu Sheriff of Borno State.


Sources told THISDAY that the anti-graft commission had written Adoke, requesting fiat to try the former governors and some other persons for various offences, but the minister gave the EFCC the permission to try Daniel and the three others, having satisfied that the commission had gathered enough evidence to sustain their trial in court.


A source said with the fiat from the minister’s office, the EFCC is set to arrest the former governors this week to face charges of financial impropriety in court.


He added that since the anti-graft agency has concluded its investigations into the allegations against the four former governors and has got the AGF’s permission, in line with the new operational guidelines for the EFCC, there was no need delaying any further.


On why it has taken this long for the commission to make a move against the former governors,   one of the sources said the new modus operandi of the EFCC has changed as it is now required to gather enough evidence to sustain a trial before arresting a suspect, especially, a politically exposed suspect such as top political office holders, including those who have left office.


He said this is because the anti-graft agency would not want to be seen as either persecuting a suspect or perceived as being used for political reasons, hence the idea is to first conclude investigation into allegations against suspects before arresting them.


“EFCC does not want to continue with the culture of indicting anyone without enough proof and granting bail every now and then. But now, the offences in question would have been fully investigated and once the facts are clear, the suspects are picked up immediately and from the cell, straight to the courtrooms. No shoddy job. Clean, meticulous and neat,” the source said.


It was learnt that some of the former governors, aware of plans to arrest them, have started lobbying top government officials to prevent their arrest and subsequent trial.


One of the former governors was said to have been Abuja, the nation’s capital, since last week, apparently lobbying people who could save him from the pending prosecution.


EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, however, declined yesterday to comment on the commission’s activities on the former governors, saying that since investigations are still going on the allegations against them, it would be premature to make any comment that could compromise the probe of the suspects.


EFCC had intensified investigations into financial activities of some states ahead of the expiration of tenure of office of former governors and the inauguration of new ones.


The commission had then sent its operatives to some states to gather sufficient evidence against some governors and their officials before power changed hands.


EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, dispatched the teams to various states where the anti-graft commission had been investigating allegations of fraud against the governors and other public officials.


The teams, in addition to their briefs, were also given deadlines to complete their assignments ahead of the May 29 handover date when some of the governors, as it is common knowledge, would have lost their immunity.

mmmmmh with Nigerians judiciary system feel with corrupt judges hope they wont get bail after 2months in custody 

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN), has given the go-ahead to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to try four former governors for various offences they allegedly committed while in office.
It was gathered yesterday that the former governors—Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Adebayo Alao-Akala(Oyo), Muhammadu Goje (Gombe) and Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), were among the nine governors being probed by the anti-graft agency, especially since their exit from power last May.

this is what they should have done all this while

why do they need an "ok" from Adoke

we Nigerians should ask why it took so long to try corrupt former governors

This is in order as corruption has almost broken the backbone of this country. This is another opportunity for EFCC to redeem its image.

However, EFCC needs full and true autonomy to give it teeth and free it from the Attorney General's office.

They may also consider special courts for corruption cases for speed and I hope, some sort of integrity.

Excessive corruption, if not tamed by all means, is enough to kill any country.

Lest I forget, no plea bargain please.

why are people not shouting here? Because the governors are PDP.

Mtcheeewwww.

PDP is being persecuted!!!!!!!!!!

LOL!

Dont mind them

Comedy show wan start again,

good 4 dem

I'm particularly happy that Daniel is finally nailed but my fear is that the case doesn't end up like that of Turaki and com that have stalled since 2007 !
Gbenga,owo ti ba e !

~Bluetooth:

I'm particularly happy that Daniel is finally nailed but my fear is that the case doesn't end up like that of Turaki and com that have stalled since 2007 !
Gbenga,owo ti ba e !

And happy that OBJ is free Bankole is released what a fool

The title of the thread is misleading and should be modified - were daniel and akala the only governors mentioned
in the piece  

TBrownAuto:

And happy that OBJ is free Bankole is released what a fool

Are you the one that released Bankole? I can't understand why you would call another person a fool when your words are false and his are true.

TBrownAuto:

And happy that OBJ is free Bankole is released what a fool

Your father,who be your mate wey you dey call fool ? Some of you nigerians can be so stuupid at times.Gbenga left a debt of over 60 billion naira and you feel he shouldn't be prosecuted ? Pdp can play politics with others but Gbenga needs to account for how he spent ogun state money for 8 good years and if you want to know why i'm concerned ? I'm from ogun state !

Let them release other goverors and prosecute chimaroke Nnamani alone so that Nigerians will become satisfied and happy.

This is a good start, but why should the get "GO" before they do their jobs?

tiwasiaife:

Let them release other goverors and prosecute chimaroke Nnamani alone so that Nigerians will become satisfied and happy.

I don't think there is anybody worse than gbenga and akala,that is why their case is being given special attention.Gbenga is not only a thief,he's a cultist and a killer !

Anyway I am happy that the news industries are going to make another round of headlines.
After this one I have another news of the secrets of BOKO HARAM I will sell on this forum.
We will always continue this way until this dispensation is over and another president & his cohorts will come up with another drama. Na so we go sidon dey look dem because na dem turn today.
NAIJA COMPLIMENT OF ANOTHER POLITICAL DRAMA!!! NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER, ABEG REMEBER IN YOUR KINGDOM O!!

That is very great indeed, I'm in support of this. I think the rate of curruption in Nigeria will be reduced. Akala the richest Man in Oyo state, who has inherited that money that belongs to the people of Oyo state will now appear to the Panel. God dey!!

Another scam.

None of them is going to jail.

Unless maybe, GEJ is no longer in power!

Birds of same feather

Bad news. It will finally come to nothing. Journalists just got another activity to ease boredom.

slap1:

Bad news. It will finally come to nothing. Journalists just got another activity to ease boredom.

+1000

More money for the lawyers, judges and even the media.
Round these animals up, set them on fire, let them burn to death and continue to burn in hell.

Lets wait & see

if Gbenga Daniel doesn't end up in jail for at least 5 yrs, it means there is no hope for this country.
I heard he is now reaching out to Kings in Lagos = to reach out to Tinubu = for Tinubu to reach out to Kunle Omosun to take it easy on him.

Depilot:

if Gbenga Daniel doesn't end up in jail for at least 5 yrs, it means there is no hope for this country.
I heard he is now reaching out to Kings in Lagos = to reach out to Tinubu = for Tinubu to reach out to Kunle Omosun to take it easy on him.

It's simple.he should refund every single penny he stole from ogun state treasury and after that, the government can do whatever they like with him .

~Bluetooth:

It's simple.he should refund every single penny he stole from ogun state treasury and after that, the government can do whatever they like with him .

Refund to who? The second-choice looter? Unless the money is openly shared to the masses, it is still lost. Na d same people!

And who is kunle omosun?

slap1:

Refund to who? The second-choice looter? Unless the money is openly shared to the masses, it is still lost. Na d same people!

let the first thief daniel cough out all the money first and from there,we know what happens later !

Sounds good, but it will happen as soon as the goat gets a tail.

u all don't know there game plan. They r doing this to justify Tinubu's arrest so it will not look like a witch hunt lol. PDP don scatter dis country