Corruption: US bars 5 governors
By IKE NNAMDI, The Sun Reporter, Washington DC
Monday,
November 27, 2006
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• Ribadu
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The United States government has barred five Nigerian governors
from entering the country with effect December 1. This follows
a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
Sources said Chairman of the EFCC Malam Nuhu Ribadu, made
the request to both the Homeland Security Department and Immigration
authorities during a stop over in Washington last week before
leaving for Guatemala. He further asked the United States
officials to probe the finances of the governors.
Daily Sun gathered that British authorities
are also investigating two of the governors. While the identity
of the state executives is still a closely guarded secret,
sources said they include a northern governor, with close
ties with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently picked
a presidential form of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,
a south western governor, a south eastern governor who is
also a PDP presidential aspirant, a South-South governor and
a Middle Belt governor, who was recently declared wanted by
the EFCC.
United States officials said the administration decided to
revoke the entry documents of the affected Nigerian officials
because Ribadu presented a "compelling case" against
them.
The US government had earlier turned down a request for a
blanket ban on all serving state chief executives and some
categories of senior government officials made by the EFCC,
which feared that the people involved may flee from a planned
mass arrest after the expiration of their tenure.
The US State Department officials said they are also looking
into further requests by the EFCC to probe the finances of
close associates of several Nigerian top officials who may
be acting as fronts.
"We have to be cautious because these are privacy issues
involved. We cannot look into people’s private business
unless they give up their rights for privacy or unless a very
compelling case is made to warrant such an action," an
official told Daily Sun.
The Federal Government has been pressing the US authorities
to do more to look into the possible ownership of several
businesses by serving and former Nigerian officials as part
of its war against corruption, with several visits by Ribadu
within the past few months.
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