| EFCC to prosecute 15
governors soon – Ribadu
By Sun News Publishing
Thursday, September 28, 2006
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Ribadu
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has sensationally revealed that
15 of the 31 state governors currently under investigation
by the commission would be charged to court next month.
He made the revelation on Wednesday when he appeared before
the Senate to brief it on the litany of investigations being
carried out by the commission in all states of the federation.
However, in a swift response, the Abia State government wondered
why the EFCC boss was demonising governors, when glaring cases
of corruption in the Presidency had not been investigated.
Ribadu, who was prevented by the Senate President, Ken Nnamani
from mentioning the name of a Nigerian, said to have stolen
the highest amount of money in the world, gave the names of
governors under probe as Boni Haruna of Adamawa State, Adamu
Muazu of Bauchi State and George Akume of Benue State, whom
Ribadu accused of not only physically beating up his men (EFCC)
right in the office of the Benue State Police Commissioner,
but also carted away vital documents recovered from some government
officials during the visit to the state.
Others are governors of Bayelsa, Cross River, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom,
Borno, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano,
Kaduna, Abia and the Lagos governor, who the crime buster
said would also answer charges on some "international
things."
He listed the rest as governors of Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo,
Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Zamfara and former
governors of Kwara, Kogi and Anambra states, adding that the
situation in Zamfara State was the worst, even as he declared
that Prince Abubakar Audu, former Kogi State governor hurriedly
left the country when he got wind of the move to close-in
on him by the commission.
The mood for Ribadu’s revelation was set by the Senate
President, who charged him to reveal everything under the
sun concerning his commission’s activities.
Nnamani, who said that the media misinterpreted the motive
behind the motion that necessitated the appearance of Ribadu
before the Senate, said: "EFCC is a creation of the National
Assembly. Contrary to public expectation and perception, EFCC
is not an executive tool but that of the National Assembly.
So we want to know about your activities. If we can read the
findings of the investigations on the vice president in the
papers, let’s know what is happening in the states EFCC
has been investigating. You’re doing a marvelous work;
no doubt, there should be no sacred cows. So, tell us about
the cankerworm, the tumour called corruption in Nigeria ."
However, Ribadu gave his brief and gave report only on the
governor of Enugu State, prompting senators to shout "no,
no, tell us the rest." Senator David Mark (PDP, Benue)
had fired a shot at Ribadu, who exuded confidence throughout
the about two and a half hours he stood before the Senate
to provide answers to their questions.
Mark said: "Senators have been named as bribe takers.
Only recently, the former number three citizen, alongside
other senators, were named in a bribery scandal. So we want
to know the names of the governors and other big men being
investigated."
From that moment on, Ribadu touched on everything, including
the much talked about Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) investigation.
Hear him: "If we all live in the U.S, all of us will
be in prison by now, because the things we do here cannot
be tolerated there. During one of the investigations there,
the FBI went into the office of the Speaker to cart away certain
document. You all know that cannot happen here. It was an
administrative panel that was set up in the NPA, but EFCC
happened to be the chair of the panel. It was after that investigation
the Federal Executive Council (FEC) directed that a criminal
investigation be carried out by EFCC. And we are doing that
now.
"EFCC cannot be everywhere at the same to solve the entire
problem. Our objective for now is suitable target for maximum
impact. Not a single person from the opposition has been taken
on by the EFCC. History and posterity will judge us.
"If we were after those who fought against third term,
the first person I would take on is the Senate President (pointing
at him). We have checked NNPC to see whether money was taken
to sponsor third term. Between me and my God, there was nothing.
I cannot manufacture facts just to satisfy some people. I
respect Senator Chukwumerije, but, like he said, if he has
any information concerning any senator who took N50 million
during the third term debate, give me and see if I will not
prosecute the person."
Apparently overwhelmed by the responses provided by the EFCC
boss, Nnamani, at the end of the exercise, said "history
will be kind to him (Ribadu) and his group. EFCC epitomizes
the war against corruption and symbolizes the fight against
corruption in Nigeria . Charge all those you are investigating
to court."
Abia State Government Wednesday night, however, described
as witchhunt, the revelation by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, accusing 31
state governors of embezzlement.
Iyke Ekeoma, special adviser to Governor Orji Uzor Kalu on
Media, said that EFCC could not say only governors were corrupt
when several cases of alleged corrupt practices against the
Presidency were never investigated for once.
Ekeoma reeled out instances of alleged corruption in Federal
Government agencies and projects including the Nigeria National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), National Identity Card project,
Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the presidential library.
He stressed that the EFCC had kept mute on those, while, according
to him, the governors were being victimised.
The Abia governor’s aide said the state had a case in
the law court against the EFCC, adding that saying more on
the matter would be prejudicial.
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