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Anti-Graft War : EFCC and Reality Show of former Governors
Legal intrigues, gerrymandering and high political maneuvering have characterized the trials of corrupt
former governors in Nigeria.
By Olufemi Soneye
During the inauguration of the board members of the EFCC in June 2008 at Abuja, Mrs. Farida Waziri
AIG (Rtd) read the riot act to prospective looters and corrupt individuals, that there would be no more
hiding places for them in Nigeria, as she promises to wage total war against corruption of any form. With
this pronouncement, the board of distinguished Nigerians was viewed as sparks of light that can ignite
candles of hope and bring illumination to Nigeria. The passion the EFCC chair generated during the
inauguration appeared at that time to be a step in the right direction. Many at that time doubted the
ability of the EFCC chair to deliver, hence did not really take her serious. Over a year after, many who
did not believe in her then now have many reasons to shower her with encomium.
She recently recovered billions of Naira from various companies investigated so far, in her new fight
against tax evasion. She has recorded over 71 convictions including the recent conviction and
sentencing of the NPA board which includes Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stalwart Chief Bode
George. Within one year, the stylish police woman has recovered over 58 billion naira with over 400
cases in court.
Despite recording great strides in other cases, her efforts in the trial of former governors have been
frustrated in various courts across the country.
These powerful and influential former governors have employed both legal theatrics and extra-judicial
means to extricate themselves from corruption charges filed against them in courts across the country.
The trial has become a reality show in various court rooms.
Ayo Fayose’s response to his trial is dramatic. The former Ekiti state governor, and now a prominent
Action Party, AC supporter in the south-west was arraigned before Justice Abubakar of the Federal high
court Lagos, in December 2007 for money laundering charges. He was granted bail in January 2008.
Immediately after his release, he filed an application asking the court to quash the charge against him,
claiming it was not filed properly and that proof of evidence disclosed no primal facie against him, as the
alleged offence was neither against the federal government or its agents, hence the proper place to try
him is Ekiti state. The former governor came to court with hundreds of his supporters, singing, drumming
and dancing, he repeatedly danced to the drumming and chants of his adulators, with various placards
with inscriptions as “Fayose the generalissimo” Fayose for ever” “ Fayose best governor”. His actions
in court displayed a statement of defiance. He lost the bid to thwart his trial, as the case continues; he
has employed various political and legal intrigues to frustrate the EFCC.
Alhaji Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa state who is being tried for alleged misappropriation of
$36 billion and $20 million respectively. The money was siphoned through various companies headed
by one Ahmed Mohammed who is still at large but charge alongside Alhaji Turaki. His application for bail
was initially refused by Justice Binta Murtala Nyako who ordered him remanded in prison. Alhaji Turaki
arrive the court in high spirits, and beaming smiles with a large crowd of supporters, when the judge
ordered him remanded he was inconsolable, weeping uncontrollably. During the course of the trial he
suddenly took ill and requested to go abroad for treatment, upon discovering that some of his
colleagues had successfully secured the release of their traveling passports. He applied to the court for
the release of his passport. The judge refused his application, not satisfied with the judge’s ruling, his
defense was that governor Orji Kalu got his passport released, so why would his own case be denied.
The embattled governor however got a reprieve on July 17, 2008 when Justice Umar of the Federal high
court ruled that his passport be released to him to go abroad for treatment. Curiously Turaki applied to
also perform his religious obligation in Saudi-Arabia, attend a conference also in Malaysia.
Former governor of Abia state Chief Orji Kalu also approached the Federal high court in Abuja, where
he is standing trial for corruption and money laundering charges asked the court to release his traveling
passport to enable him visit his sick wife at a Boston medical facility, the judge initially refused the
request, but his lawyers appealed against the ruling, and the judge eventually granted him the request.
Investigations carried out by the Nigerian Media Practitioners in Diaspora, NMPD, revealed that Kalu’s
wife was indeed not admitted at the hospital in Boston, and never a patient at that health facility as
against the affidavit sworn to the court by Chief Orji Kalu. The controversial governor has employed
many intrigues, delay tactics and political power in the course of his trial. He has consistently failed to
Appear (FTA) in court using excuses as being ill, bereaved or out of the country. These antics have
fetched him series of adjournment in the course of his trial. Orji Kalu has also brought thousands of
unruly supporters to the court; chanting and singing each time he appears in court.
The trial of former Enugu state governor and a serving senator Chief Chimaroke Nnamani is very
interesting. His supporters thronged the court, in specially made fabrics with his name and pictures
inscribed on them. They composed songs in his name, danced around the court premises singing and
chanting “Nnamani’s enemies will die” ‘Governor Nnamani did not steal money”. He has also asked the
court to stop his trial alleging abuse of court process in his charges. He has a 5.3 billion theft charge
against him.
Chief James Onanafe Ibori former governor of Delta state is notorious for his legal antics, hide and seek
games and political maneuvers. Immediately he was granted bail at the Federal high court Kaduna, he
filed applications to stop his trial on the ground that the alleged offence was committed in Delta state
and hence it should be moved to Asaba. Initially the judge ruled against his application, not satisfied he
rushed to the appeal court who also ruled against his application. With a fresh application he was
successful in his challenge and the trial moved to Asaba before Justice Awokulehin. At the first
appearance in Asaba trial could not proceed due to the absence of one of the accused persons, an
aide to Ibori, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, who is facing money laundering trial before a London Crown court.
In the process of slowing down his trial he has requested for the release of his traveling passport to
enable him visit his families abroad. During his trial in Kaduna, he is known to come to the court with
thousands of supporters. At one time his supporters carrying placards, praising the former governor,
pulled down the walls of the court premises where he was being tried and attacked prosecuting counsel;
his women adulators once stripped themselves naked in court premises.
The controversial governor was recently linked to a non performing loan of 44 billion naira, in shares –
for –loan deal uncovered by the EFCC. The commissioner for finance during his administration Mr. Love
Ojakovo who is at large is wanted by the EFCC.
Recently the trial judge in his case erred by disclosing to the London court in advance that all charges
against Mr. Ibori would be dismissed on a particular date even before the commencement of the trial.
The same orchestrated mockery of the anti-corruption war trail the trials of Chief Lucky Igbinedion,
Micheal Botmang, Rev Nyame, Joshua Dariye, Boni Haruna and Rasheed Ladoja in Federal courts
across Nigeria with their actions and that of their supporters displaying a statement of defiance.
Legal intrigues, gerrymandering and high political maneuvering have characterized the trials of corrupt
former governors in Nigeria.
By Olufemi Soneye
During the inauguration of the board members of the EFCC in June 2008 at Abuja, Mrs. Farida Waziri
AIG (Rtd) read the riot act to prospective looters and corrupt individuals, that there would be no more
hiding places for them in Nigeria, as she promises to wage total war against corruption of any form. With
this pronouncement, the board of distinguished Nigerians was viewed as sparks of light that can ignite
candles of hope and bring illumination to Nigeria. The passion the EFCC chair generated during the
inauguration appeared at that time to be a step in the right direction. Many at that time doubted the
ability of the EFCC chair to deliver, hence did not really take her serious. Over a year after, many who
did not believe in her then now have many reasons to shower her with encomium.
She recently recovered billions of Naira from various companies investigated so far, in her new fight
against tax evasion. She has recorded over 71 convictions including the recent conviction and
sentencing of the NPA board which includes Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stalwart Chief Bode
George. Within one year, the stylish police woman has recovered over 58 billion naira with over 400
cases in court.
Despite recording great strides in other cases, her efforts in the trial of former governors have been
frustrated in various courts across the country.
These powerful and influential former governors have employed both legal theatrics and extra-judicial
means to extricate themselves from corruption charges filed against them in courts across the country.
The trial has become a reality show in various court rooms.
Ayo Fayose’s response to his trial is dramatic. The former Ekiti state governor, and now a prominent
Action Party, AC supporter in the south-west was arraigned before Justice Abubakar of the Federal high
court Lagos, in December 2007 for money laundering charges. He was granted bail in January 2008.
Immediately after his release, he filed an application asking the court to quash the charge against him,
claiming it was not filed properly and that proof of evidence disclosed no primal facie against him, as the
alleged offence was neither against the federal government or its agents, hence the proper place to try
him is Ekiti state. The former governor came to court with hundreds of his supporters, singing, drumming
and dancing, he repeatedly danced to the drumming and chants of his adulators, with various placards
with inscriptions as “Fayose the generalissimo” Fayose for ever” “ Fayose best governor”. His actions
in court displayed a statement of defiance. He lost the bid to thwart his trial, as the case continues; he
has employed various political and legal intrigues to frustrate the EFCC.
Alhaji Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa state who is being tried for alleged misappropriation of
$36 billion and $20 million respectively. The money was siphoned through various companies headed
by one Ahmed Mohammed who is still at large but charge alongside Alhaji Turaki. His application for bail
was initially refused by Justice Binta Murtala Nyako who ordered him remanded in prison. Alhaji Turaki
arrive the court in high spirits, and beaming smiles with a large crowd of supporters, when the judge
ordered him remanded he was inconsolable, weeping uncontrollably. During the course of the trial he
suddenly took ill and requested to go abroad for treatment, upon discovering that some of his
colleagues had successfully secured the release of their traveling passports. He applied to the court for
the release of his passport. The judge refused his application, not satisfied with the judge’s ruling, his
defense was that governor Orji Kalu got his passport released, so why would his own case be denied.
The embattled governor however got a reprieve on July 17, 2008 when Justice Umar of the Federal high
court ruled that his passport be released to him to go abroad for treatment. Curiously Turaki applied to
also perform his religious obligation in Saudi-Arabia, attend a conference also in Malaysia.
Former governor of Abia state Chief Orji Kalu also approached the Federal high court in Abuja, where
he is standing trial for corruption and money laundering charges asked the court to release his traveling
passport to enable him visit his sick wife at a Boston medical facility, the judge initially refused the
request, but his lawyers appealed against the ruling, and the judge eventually granted him the request.
Investigations carried out by the Nigerian Media Practitioners in Diaspora, NMPD, revealed that Kalu’s
wife was indeed not admitted at the hospital in Boston, and never a patient at that health facility as
against the affidavit sworn to the court by Chief Orji Kalu. The controversial governor has employed
many intrigues, delay tactics and political power in the course of his trial. He has consistently failed to
Appear (FTA) in court using excuses as being ill, bereaved or out of the country. These antics have
fetched him series of adjournment in the course of his trial. Orji Kalu has also brought thousands of
unruly supporters to the court; chanting and singing each time he appears in court.
The trial of former Enugu state governor and a serving senator Chief Chimaroke Nnamani is very
interesting. His supporters thronged the court, in specially made fabrics with his name and pictures
inscribed on them. They composed songs in his name, danced around the court premises singing and
chanting “Nnamani’s enemies will die” ‘Governor Nnamani did not steal money”. He has also asked the
court to stop his trial alleging abuse of court process in his charges. He has a 5.3 billion theft charge
against him.
Chief James Onanafe Ibori former governor of Delta state is notorious for his legal antics, hide and seek
games and political maneuvers. Immediately he was granted bail at the Federal high court Kaduna, he
filed applications to stop his trial on the ground that the alleged offence was committed in Delta state
and hence it should be moved to Asaba. Initially the judge ruled against his application, not satisfied he
rushed to the appeal court who also ruled against his application. With a fresh application he was
successful in his challenge and the trial moved to Asaba before Justice Awokulehin. At the first
appearance in Asaba trial could not proceed due to the absence of one of the accused persons, an
aide to Ibori, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, who is facing money laundering trial before a London Crown court.
In the process of slowing down his trial he has requested for the release of his traveling passport to
enable him visit his families abroad. During his trial in Kaduna, he is known to come to the court with
thousands of supporters. At one time his supporters carrying placards, praising the former governor,
pulled down the walls of the court premises where he was being tried and attacked prosecuting counsel;
his women adulators once stripped themselves naked in court premises.
The controversial governor was recently linked to a non performing loan of 44 billion naira, in shares –
for –loan deal uncovered by the EFCC. The commissioner for finance during his administration Mr. Love
Ojakovo who is at large is wanted by the EFCC.
Recently the trial judge in his case erred by disclosing to the London court in advance that all charges
against Mr. Ibori would be dismissed on a particular date even before the commencement of the trial.
The same orchestrated mockery of the anti-corruption war trail the trials of Chief Lucky Igbinedion,
Micheal Botmang, Rev Nyame, Joshua Dariye, Boni Haruna and Rasheed Ladoja in Federal courts
across Nigeria with their actions and that of their supporters displaying a statement of defiance.
Posted Wednesday 04 November, 2009