State governors have been used to getting invitations to impressive and ground-shaking occasions but recently, some of them have gotten invitations they might never have expected. Having exhausted the much-debated immunity provision in the Nigerian constitution, some ex-governors may be heading to the days of reckoning when they have to pay for their misdeeds if the anti-graft agency remains focused on achieving a conclusive prosecution. With the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trailing some past governors and grilling them for hours, many of them will never want their paths to cross with that of the commission. Some of the former state executives having cases to answer before the commission are:
1. Former Imo State Governor IKEDI OHAKIM
Ohakim was arrested over a number of properties he allegedly acquired which the anti-graft agency had traced to his name. Also, the cases brought against him include alleged misappropriation of N18bn bond loans obtained on behalf of Imo State government. This is just as he is being investigated for alleged cash withdrawals of about N1bn from the state account a day before he left office as governor.
2. Former Jigawa State Governor SULE LAMIDO
Lamido is being accused of huge financial fraud running into billions of naira. The questions Lamido has to provide answers to border on contracts which his government awarded to companies which are linked to his family members. Also, the ex-governor had been blacklisted since the EFCC arrested his sons last year for alleged stealing of Jigawa State government funds and laundering which they allegedly committed through their company accounts.
3. Former Bayelsa Governor TIMPRE SILVA
Sylva has been standing trial over a six-count criminal charge brought against him by the commission ranging from alleged masterminding of illegal diversion of state government funds from the coffers of Bayelsa State during his tenure to other offences. Among the offences are embezzlement of over N6.5 billion from the treasury of the small oil-rich state between October 2009 and February, 2010 - just a period of 4 months.
4. Former Enugu Governor MARTIN ELECHI
Elechi was on Tuesday, June 16, summoned by the commission for interrogation. Accusations against the septuagenarian include alleged theft of millions of naira in the asphalt contract for the state's 13 local government areas. The contract was said to be shoddily executed and was allegedly awarded to the former governor's son, Elechi Nnanna Elechi.
5. Former Adamawa State MURTALA NYAKO
It will be recalled that Nyako with his deputy, Bala Ngilari, was impeached by the Adamawa State House of Assembly for gross financial fraud on July 16, 2014 and was later declared wanted by the anti-graft agency alongside his son Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, a retired naval officer, in February this year. Both were wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.
6. Former Katsina Governor IBRAHIM SHEMA
The searchlight of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also beaming bright on Kastina State. In a move to ensure that former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, gives account of how he spent the state's resources while in power, the EFCC recently invited four top officials of the state government for questioning over some financial transactions.
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