NO fewer than 12 governors are being
investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for massive fraud and
misappropriation of public funds in their states, a SUNDAY PUNCH investigation has revealed.
Our correspondent learnt that the
discreet investigations commenced after the anti-graft agencies received
several petitions against the 12 governors.
While the EFCC is investigating eight governors, the ICPC is probing four.
It was gathered that most of the petitions were received after the said governors had celebrated their first year in office.
A senior official of the EFCC, who
pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter,
told our correspondent that the number of the petitions against each of
the governor was so huge that the agency could not ignore them.
The official added that though the
commission did not have the powers to prosecute the governors because of
the immunity they enjoy, it would continue with the probe.
According to the source, nearly all the
governors were aware that there were petitions against them but they did
not know that investigations had begun.
He said, “We won’t wait until they finish
their tenure before we start our work. Moreover, we are not talking
about one or two petitions against the governors, the petitions are in
huge numbers and we have a duty to act. Of course, not all the
allegations in the petition will be true but we have to find out first.
“Once they finish their tenure, we will
be sending out invitations and making arrests. We have a minimum of two
years to finish our investigations on them. When they finish ruling, we
will be ready.”
When pressed by SUNDAY PUNCH to
divulge the identity of the governors, the source refused. The official
expressed fears that the governors could scuttle the investigations by
bringing political pressure to bear on the agency and its
investigators.
He, however, identified Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State as being on the probe list.
“Both of them are aware of the
investigations but others are not. If we give you their names, they will
start intense lobbying and manoeuvrings which won’t aid our
investigations,” the source added.
Last year, the sacked chairmen of the 27
local governments in Imo State had told the EFCC that Okorocha
misappropriated funds from a N13.5bn bond raised by his predecessor,
Ikedi Ohakim.
The Association of Local Governments of
Nigeria also alleged that since June 2011, the Joint Accounts Committee
in Imo State had not functioned and all statutory allocations due to the
local governments totaling over N80bn had been misappropriated by
Okorocha.
Following the ALGON petition, among
others, operatives of the EFCC visited Imo in October and commenced
probes into the operations of the state joint account with the local
government as well as the financial records of the state under former
Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
However, the state Commissioner for
Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, had said, “The investigation of the
state finances is a welcome development because the EFCC is finally
making efforts to investigate and hopefully recover billions of Naira
spent on phantom Internet-based projects.
“Okorocha was the first sitting governor
to have called on the EFCC to set up a unit in every governor’s office
to pre-empt and prevent corruption rather than launching investigations
after the funds go missing. He runs the most transparent administration
in the country and has nothing to hide.”
SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that
Uduaghan was being investigated for the “suspicious award of Asaba
International Airport contracts and other projects.”
“The petitions against the Delta State
governor and some of his officials queried the way they have been
awarding contracts and questionable projects. We have gone to the state
and invited some of the officials. They have told us what they know but
we are not satisfied so we will keep at it,” the source added.
Confirming the petitions against the
governors, the Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson
Uwujaren, said, “We have petitions against some of the sitting governors
and we are making some enquiries about the petitions. I cannot tell you
the governors being investigated even though the public is aware of
some. Yes, the governors enjoy immunity but it won’t deter us.”
Similarly, ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the agency was probing four governors.
He said, “I can’t give you their names
and I can’t tell you how far we have gone but we are investigating four
governors. The governors enjoy immunity but the people they use to
pilfer public funds don’t. We are interrogating their men and when we
are done, we will charge them to court.”
PUNCH
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How can we develop like this .
ReplyDeleteWhen we know that our governors are thieves but bcos of immunity we can not prosecute him .
What nonsense immunity .
If there is a plot to distract Rochas Okorocha they will not succeed. GEJ should not be scared of Rochas, he will not contest for presidency come 2015.
ReplyDeleteI know they will all be scared that he is going to divid GEJ vote in south east.
Abia State governor should be the first to be probed. He has killed the state.
ReplyDeleteD simple truth is dat Immunit y should be removed from all serving public leaders that includes from d presidency to d councillors so that they sit up to develope our poverty rocking country (NIGERIA).
ReplyDeleteMy brother i wonder what Theo Orji is giving them and the Press! The man is a sucking-demon unleashed on Abians. Take a trip to Aba and you will curse the day you were aware you are Nigerian.
ReplyDeleteMy brother i wonder what Theo Orji is giving them and the Press! The man is a sucking-demon unleashed on Abians. Take a trip to Aba and you will curse the day you were aware you are Nigerian.
ReplyDelete