The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is already making arrangements to swoop in on some governors, whose tenure ends on May 29.
Some of the outgoing governors have been under investigation for a while and the anti-graft agency would be fully empowered to probe and, if necessary, prosecute them for alleged offences of corruption once their tenure ends in less than two months time as they will no longer be covered by immunity as granted by the constitution.
It was learnt that the EFCC has begun assembling a team of investigators to probe some of the investigated individuals upon the conclusion of their tenure in office.
Tony Orilade, EFCC spokesperson, confirmed that “further action” will be expedited on cases brought before the commission against some of the outgoing governors.
“I don’t have the full details of the cases but investigations have been going on as regards some of these cases and as soon as their immunity is gone, we will take further action and if there is a prima facie case, we will take the matter to court,” Orilade told the Punch.
The anti-graft agency spokesperson also said some of the governors-elect who have pending cases prior to their swearing-in would still be investigated and, if the need arises, prosecuted after the completion of their tenure.
“As for those who have won and are going to be covered by immunity, it does not mean that investigations will stop. They are not immune from investigation but from prosecution as guaranteed by the constitution. And at the proper time, if there is a prima facie case, they will be prosecuted,” Orilade said.
Some of the governors who have cases before the EFCC include Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
A petition was filed against Governor Okorocha for allegedly diverting N1.05bn during the recently conculded governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
Governor Yari is being investigated by the anti-graft agency for allegedly diverting state funds worth billions of naira.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had, in 2017, ordered an interim forfeiture of the sums of N500m and $500,000 respectively, which were said to have been looted from the Paris Club refunds made by the Federal Government to the 36 states of the federation.
The monies were purportedly recovered from First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited, and Gosh Projects Limited, which were allegedly linked to Yari.
In Kwara State, six commissioners and government officials working for the Governor Ahmed administration were arrested by the EFCC for allegedly diverting N1bn a week before the National Assembly and presidential elections.
A petition was also filed against Governor Amosun by a group, Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate, claiming that there was an alleged misappropriation of N4 billion Anchor Borrowers’ Fund meant for Ogun farmers by the state government.
The group alleged that Governor Amosun staged a jamboree ceremony and set up fake rice pyramids to deceive Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank Governor, when he (Emefiele) visited the state last year.
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