Efio-Ita Nyok|6 October 2016
It will be recalled that on 3 October Punch Newspaper reported that a special presidential committee on corruption, namely, the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) administered by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), was set to file fraud charges against 31 ex-Governors and politicians.
In the list of 31 ex-Governors and other politically exposed persons comprising Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is a former Governor of Kwara State; Godswill Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State; and a factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who is an ex-Governor of Borno State.
Other ex-governors affected include Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Joshua Dariye (Plateau); Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
They also include Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); Achike Udenwa (Imo); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Boni Haruna (Adamawa); George Akume (Benue); Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) and Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo).
Others are Usman Dakingari (Kebbi); Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi); Peter Odili (Rivers), and Lucky Igbindedion (Edo).
On 4 October, the Editor of NegroidHaven.org had queried why former governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (2007 – 2015) wasn't included in the said list especially considering that Cross River-born Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, a renowned right activist and now Special Adviser to President on Prosecution had been in the vanguard of dragging Imoke to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for graft.
On 5 October, in what may be described as a rebuttal to the publication of the Editor of NegroidHaven.org, Obla informed through his social media account why Imoke was not included in the said list. According to Obla, 'the former Governors whose names were listed in the Punch Newspaper publication, which elicited the reaction from him are former Governors that were investigated between 2003-2011 by the EFCC! To the best of knowledge the EFCC's investigation of the finances of Cross River State is still on-going!'
The foregoing should suffice as an explanation to why Imoke's name wasn't included in the list of 31 ex-Governors and other politicians to stand prosecution against corruption charges.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of NegroidHaven.org
Is that apology?
Do not be quick to comment and judge.
Is that apology?
Do not be quick to comment and judge.