Following the reopening of the investigation into the stalled N772bn fraud cases against some former state governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerians have asked the anti-graft agency to ensure the prosecution of the individuals involved in the alleged looting of the public funds.
Civil Society groups, lawyers, and other concerned citizens in separate interviews on Sunday, said the EFCC must recover the N772bn from the ex-governors and former ministers.
The EFCC had reopened the money laundering cases against 13 former governors and some former ministers.
Findings revealed the amount at stake in the high-profile cases involving the former governors and ex-ministers was not less than N772.2bn.
However, the anti-graft agency is currently investigating the N81.6bn that was allegedly looted in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Another $2.2bn was alleged to have gone missing through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation in recent times.
The $2.2bn was allegedly diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; late media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; and former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and others.
The presidential committee that investigated arms procurement under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration said about $2.2bn was diverted for purposes other than arms procurement.
Other persons under EFCC probe include former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle; two former Enugu State governors, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime; former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu; former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, ex-Akwa Ibom Governor and current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and many others.
Former Governor Lamido, when contacted, “My case had been tried and disposed of.”
Esme Eyiboh, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said there was no document to that effect from the anti-graft agency.
He stated, “You know the principle of law is very clear on that. Whoever alleges must prove. So if that is what EFCC has said, then I need to see a document to that effect.
“If the EFCC said that is what they want to do, what reply do you want then? If the EFCC had made a public statement or public communication to that effect, well maybe I would have contributed to it. But now there is nothing I can base my reaction on.”
All efforts to get the former Nasarawa State Governor and immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Adamu Abdullahi, former Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, and former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal did not yield results as they could not be reached on the phone.
Commenting on the development, the Deputy Director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Kolawole Oluwadare, simply said, “Yes, I commend the EFCC for reviving the fraud cases.”
When asked if the EFCC should insist that the ex-govs account for the money, Oluwadare noted, “The EFCC is within its constitutional and statutory mandates to investigate any Nigerian whether public or private for any infraction of the law including cases of corruption.
“However, it is the court that determines the culpability of these individuals following investigations by the EFCC and the arraignment before the court.
“Just because the EFCC is investigating does not mean that the ex-governors are culpable and even if the EFCC concludes the investigations and brings it before the court; that is not conclusive because it is the court that determines the culpability.
“If the court finds them culpable, then the law should run its course which includes recovering the money.’’
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, lauded the EFCC for re-opening the probe, promising to work with the anti-graft agencies to expose corrupt officials.
“Without the EFCC and the ICPC, Nigeria would have been in bigger trouble. So, the efforts of these agencies are helping to sanitise Nigeria even though the government has not demonstrated its intention to go after any individual accused of corruption,’’ he said.
Social activist and lawyer, Victor Giwa said, “Nigeria is broke any attempt to recover our looted funds is a welcome development. This money is still with these people, they must be recovered.”
