EFCC to probe sacked governors

FOR allegedly mismanaging the finances of their states, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will go after some of the five former governors who were sacked by the Supreme Court on Friday.The commission, at the weekend, disclosed plans to invite some of the governors to answer questions regarding management of state finances during their tenure in office amid speculations that some of them may be on their way out of the country to escape investigations by anti_graft agencies.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that a host of the governors did not have ample time to tidy their books before they were booted out of office, a situation that may afford the anti-graft agencies room to nail them. With two favourable judgments in their kitty, some of them stormed Abuja ahead of the judgment, on Friday, expecting the Supreme Court to approve their elongated tenures but they were heavily disappointed. Indeed, some of the former governors are not in good terms with the Speakers, who succeeded them as acting governors.

EFCC Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said “some of the ousted governors may have a case or two to answer with the commission. Already, we have pending petitions against these governors, and we will be inviting them to make statements, then we will take it up from there.”

This came as Adamawa State erupted in jubilation over the ouster of former Governor Murtala Nyako and Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Lawali Zayyana, was sworn-in as acting governor to replace sacked Aliyu Wamakko.

Meanwhile, as the acting governors marked their first day in office, mixed reactions continued to trail the apex court’s axing of the governors yesterday. Aside Nyako and Wamakko, the other ex-governors removed are Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

Probe
Uwujaren would not confirm reports that any of the former state executives has left the country.

However, a reliable source in the EFCC stressed that the anti_graft agency was resolved to bring corrupt former leaders to book, no matter where they run to or how long they run, saying: “We are not being slack (over corrupt ex-governors).

I can assure you that we will do the right thing by investigating the petitions, but we will not be pressured into opening up the extent in order not to compromise our work. Nigerians should be rest assured that we will go after former governors that have cases to answer with the Commission,, wherever they may be. In the coming days, we will let the public into what we are doing and how far we have come.”

The source added that EFCC was “ready to do whatever is necessary and legal” to bring the former governors and their cohorts to account for allegations of financial misconduct.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti_Corruption, on Friday, called for enhanced funding of the activities and operations of the EFCC. Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Jagaba Adams Jagaba, made the call at a meeting where the acting chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, presented the commission’s budget proposal to it.

A proposal of N10.9billion, as allocated by the Budget Office of the Federation, was presented. He specifically called for the intervention of the committee to correct the zero allocation in respect of Legal Services, Forensic Laboratory, Information and Communication Technology and Life Insurance for the staff of the commission.
Jagaba expressed support for the work of the EFCC and assured the EFCC of the cooperation of his committee to address the shortfall in the allocation made by the Budget Office.

Jubilation in Adamawa as Marwa returns
For over three hours, on Friday night, the road leading from the Yola Airport to General Mohammed Buba Marwa’s house, which is about 15 kilometers, was blocked as jubilant indigenes of Adamawa State trooped out in large numbers to give him a triumphant return from Abuja. Marwa, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Adamawa guber candidate contested the tenure elongation verdicts of the lower courts upto the Supreme Court.

As he alighted from the airport, taxi drivers, private vehicle owners, Okada riders joined his convoy and took over Yola roads. There were shouts of “Change Dole”, “Change Yazo” while many celebrated that Marwa was instrumental to liberating Adamawa people from the bondage of Nyako’s Administration. Shocking scenes were to follow with some of his supporters displaying placards of a major opposition candidate in the February 4 election, calling for his withdrawal for failing to improve the lot of the state.

Security operatives who were on hand to control the situation became overwhelmed as the crowd continued to swell at every turn along the way. Luckily, no casualty was recorded during the journey to his abode.

On reaching his house, Marwa told the jubilant supporters he was happy to have been the instrument God used to remove Nyako from oppressing them, adding that it was the signal that the change they want would materialize.
He told them that the mis-governance of the last five years would soon be corrected because resources allocated to the state would henceforth be put to fruitful use. The Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Fintiri, the former speaker of the State House of Assembly was shut out for over two months by Nyako, who was insisting that his loyalist and impeached former Speaker, Ibrahim Sadeeq, must be returned.

Binabo gets cracking in Bayelsa
Acting governor of Bayelsa State, Nestor Binabo, yesterday, effected minor changes in his one day old administration with the appointment of a university don, Prof Millionaire Abowei as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Abowei, an indigene of Angiama in Southern Ijaw Local Council takes over from Chief Gideon Ekeuwei, a native of Azuzuama also from Southern Ijaw Local Council. He will be sworn in tomorrow at Gloryland Castle, Governor’s Lodge. Binabo, in a statement by the Assistant Director, Information, Government House, Mr. Chris Odi, while thanking Ekeuwei for his service to the government called on him to hand over all government properties in his possession to the most senior government official in the service. The Acting Governor also approved the appointment of Ebi Avi, a veteran journalist as his Chief Press Secretary and A. Austin as the new Chief of Staff, Government House. The duo will take over from Doifie Ola, erstwhile CPS to former Governor Timipre Sylva and Samuel Ogbuku, former Chief of Staff, Government House.

Sokoto gets acting gov
Former Speaker Zayyana was sworn-in, yesterday, by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice A’ishatu Dahiru, in compliance with the provision of Section 191(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. Speaking thereafter, Zayyana sued for peace, called for understanding of the people and urged them to go about their normal activities without let or hindrance.

Mixed reactions
Commenting on the judgment, Ebonyi State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Igwenyi, hailed the apex court’s decision and hoped that it would help the country achieve good governance. He also expressed regrets that the Supreme Court judgment on the tenure of governors did not come earlier than now saying that the tension being generated by the landmark judgment in certain states would have been eliminated.

Igwenyi, nevertheless, stressed that the judgement had put to rest the “anxieties, argument and antagonisms” that continued to trail the beneficiaries of re-run governorship polls in the five affected states after the flawed 2007 elections.

Relatedly, National Co-ordinator of Warri-based Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (FJHD), Oghnejabor Ikimi, who had last year approached a Federal High Court in Asaba for a proper interpretation of the tenure of the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan after his first tenure was truncated by the Court of Appeal, Benin City, said the latest judgment by the Supreme Court “has further deepened our fledgling democracy.”

However, 2007 and 2011 Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Igbini, faulted the verdict, saying that it would create confusion in the polity.

In a statement made available to Sunday Vanguard in Warri, he said: “I do not agree with the judgment of the Supreme Court on this matter.

The fact remains that prior to the amendment of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution on January 10, 2011, the provision of Section 180(2) simply implies that any governorship election annulled by Court of Appeal and a re-run election conducted, the oath of office first taken is invalid, and unknown to law, despite the fact that policies and actions taken during the said invalid period remains valid. The reason for this is that the policies and actions taken are irreversible.

“However, I want to hasten to state that by this judgment of the Supreme Court, it follows that any governorship election to be held in the five affected states must be deemed to have been held on April 26, 2011 being the date fixed by INEC for fresh governorship elections.”

He continued:, “This judgment of the Supreme Court has now confirmed Timipre Sylva as PDP governorship candidate for the election to be held any time from now because by provision of Section 131 of the Electoral Act, 2010, he is the valid candidate for PDP in the January 2011 PDP Primary.

“For the benefit of doubt, Section 32(1) states that “every political party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a general election under the provisions of this Act, submit to the Commission in the prescribed forms, the list of the Candidates the Party Proposes to sponsor at the elections”. The big question now is: who was PDP governorship candidate sent to INEC in January 2011? No doubt, there more confusion has been created by Supreme Court on Nigeria’s political scene.”








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