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ABUJA/ A Celebration Cut Short
October 20, 2008 12:16, 425 views
There was clinking of glasses, unrestrained backslapping and a general feeling of relief in the camp of former governors across Nigeria last Tuesday. Reason? The prospect of their spending a few years behind bars or forfeiting a portion of their prized assets scattered across the world to the Nigerian state in case of their conviction on charges of corrupt enrichment and abuse of office looked very remote that morning. Not less than 11 former state chief executives are currently being tried for alleged corrupt enrichment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in different courts across the country. The anti-graft agency has also said that it is investigating cases of corrupt enrichment against other ex- governors.
But the camp of the ex governors went wild with joy when most of the national newspapers last Tuesday morning reported that Farida Waziri, Chairman, EFCC had declared that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the former governors at a function the previous day. “No Case: EFCC boss says no evidence to prosecute Obasanjo, ex-govs for corruption,” was the headline given to the story by a prominent national newspaper.
But the wild celebration that followed the report was cut short by a terse statement from the anti-graft agency a few hours after the publications hit the newsstands. Issued by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the anti- graft agency, after giving a vivid description of what transpired at the forum, said its Chairman was misquoted and maintained that the case against the ex-governors had not been closed. According to the Commission, the prosecution of 11 ex- governors currently going on in court will continue while some others are still being investigated to gather enough evidence to prosecute them. “It is, therefore, misleading to suggest that because the present leadership of the Commission did not inherit the 31 case files, the Commission cannot build up evidence against those that have questions to answer,” it added.
And as if to empahasise its resolve, the anti-graft agency last Wednesday slammed 44 new charges against the former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, who has been undergoing trial at Federal High Court, Enugu. This brings to 191 the number of charges against the ex-governor. For former state chief executives, it is not yet time to party.
Report By Oluokun Ayorinde.
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Oloche David
20 October 2008 22:26We do not know what to believe. If they are telling us that the files are missing then they are making us believe that the system is corrupt, because such document are not just files that are left for any dick and harry so please Madam chairperson tell us where those files are or you resign as the chairperson of EFCC.
If really the presidency is not a party to it then the chairperson should be arrested and a better hand should take over that office otherwise we believe that there is a problem with the present administration.
zuik
21 October 2008 15:01The truth is that must of this people who we are made to believe that their fighting crime in nigrria are just there to protect interest of those people that misused public funds.how can the chairman of EFCC openly said that there is not enough evidence or that the files of their case is missing,the truth is tha the system itself is currupt i mean EFCC.
fidelis nduka
22 October 2008 12:15THE WHOLE THING LOOK AS IF IYA RADUA IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THE ANTI CORUPTION CRUSADE HE IS PREACHING. I CAN NOW SEE REASONS WHY RIBADU WAS REMOVED. IT LOOK AS IF THE CURRENT CHAIRPESON HERSELF IS CORUPT,CANT SHE TAKE CLUE FROM THE NAFDA BOSS. SHE SHOULD RESIGN HER APOINTMENT IF THAT OFFICE IS TOO BIG FOR HER TO HANDLE OTHERWISE THE GENERATION YET ONBORN WILL NOT FORGIVE HER IF SHE FAIL TO PROSECUT THE LOOTERS OF OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY.
Obi chuck
25 October 2008 02:37EFCC has not proved effiecient in public eye. Commercial bus drivers, bus conductors, okada drivers will readily tell there is evidence to show our governors and other public officers are treasury looters. EFCC can fool some people some time but they can’t fool all the people all the time(bob marley). For goodness sake EFCC should start sending these looters to prison. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Obi Chuck
Atlanta, Ga, USA
Ibraheem Aruna
29 October 2008 20:24That the Head / Chairperson of EFFCC would make such a comment and later admit being misquoted, is in my opinion a reflection of her sincere view of the issues of corruption against these former state executives. I am of the view that we need a genuine person who appreciate the consequences of corruption and the magnitude of our under development to do that job.