News

EFCC, ICPC told to go after ex-Governors Okorocha, Abubakar, Ajimobi

Published

7 years ago

June 24, 2019

Eric

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has urged the two anti-graft agencies: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, to wade into allegations of financial impropriety levelled by some of the states’ newly sworn-in governors against their predecessors.

CACOL mentioned former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as some of the past governors that the anti-graft agencies should go after without further delay.

A press release made available by CACOL’s Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran, on Monday read: “Since the assumption of office by many of the newly sworn-in governors at the various states in the country on May 29, 2019, some of the governors have cried out over the ridiculous spending attributable to their predecessors with nothing concrete and tangible to show for it.

“In many of these states where their governors have made noise to the general public and relevant anti-corruption agencies, we would derelict if we claimed we did not see this coming.

“Take for instance, a state like Imo state with its worrisome state of public health institutions and public schools, yet the then governor, Rochas Okorocha embarked on building gigantic statutes of certain public figures, some of whom were not leaders in this country and even standing trial for corruption in their own country like Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

“The current governor of the state, Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha has alleged also spent billions on road rehabilitations, etc., with only potholes and gashes littering the entire state.’

“In similar vein, the incumbent governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, has accused his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar of spending N2.3bn (Two Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira) on burial alone in the between January and May (a period of 5 months) this year alone. According to the Spokesman to the governor, Dr. Ladan Salihu, there were other cases of ‘venal and spurious spending’ that show daylight robbery of the people’s commonwealth.’

“Not long ago, the current governor of Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde, accused his predecessor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of profligacy spending bordering on corruption and carting away of over 30 (Thirty) exotic vehicles worth billions of Naira belonging to different ministries and parastatals in the state.

“He has vowed to set up a probe panel to unearth the amount involved in clear corruption cases involving the government under his predecessor. All this only confirms our fear as expressed indifferent releases, publications, etc., that corruption walks in all fours in most of the states within the Nigerian federation as little or nothing could be shown by the states’ governments for the humongous federal allocations they received, monthly and quarterly, from the federation accounts.

“Instead of embarking on developmental and innovative projects that could not just bail their states out of undue dependency; they literally squandered most of the resources at their disposal while workers were owed months, and in certain instances, years of salary while even the bailouts from the Federal government are also not spared from their expropriating tendencies.

“While the consequences of the current governors in those states where the treasury was blatantly looted not probing their predecessors are grievous, we implore the nation’s anti-graft agencies, the ICPC and the EFCC, to immediately spring into action by setting up their internal committee, if such were not in existence already, to probe all financial dealings of these ex-governors with a view to bringing culprits into book and recovering much of the stolen wealth.

“This would not only allow the incumbent governors to get down to serious issues of governance and delivering on their campaign promises to their people; it would also make available to them such despoiled scarce resources and serve as a deterrent to future looting of the commonwealth.”

News

Court Grants Malami N200m Bail in DSS Terrorism, Firearm Charges

Published

2 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

Justice Joyce Abdulmalikof the Federal High Court Abujahas admitted a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son Abdulazizto N200 million bail in the charges bordering on alleged terrorism and illegal firearms possession brought against them by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Malami and his son were, however, ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions imposed on them by the Court.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted them bail while ruling on their bail applications, which were argued by their lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The judge ordered the former AGF and his son to get two sureties each, one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, along with valid international passports.

The sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of the trial.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, Malami was accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

News

Fubara Appoints New SSG, Chief of Staff

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Eric

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and Barrister Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff, after the recent shake-up of the State’s political and administrative structure.

The appointments were announced on Thursday in a Special Government Notice signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, and made available to journalists. Both appointments take immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor appointed Dr Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Mr. Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff.

The statement said the appointments take immediate effect, adding that the new appointees would be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The development comes amid the protracted political crisis in the State, which recently escalated into impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by the State House of Assembly. The crisis was eventually diffused following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, had last week announced during plenary that the Assembly formally withdrew the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy after the President’s intervention.

Political observers suggest that the dissolution of the cabinet may be part of efforts to rebalance the power structure in the following the peace accord. However, it remains unclear whether the new appointees are aligned with the governor or loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The statement read in part: “The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the Secretary to the State Government and Barrister Sunny Ewule as the Chief of Staff.

“Both appointments are with immediate effect. The new appointees will be sworn in at 2:00 pm.today, Thursday, February 26, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

News

Court Strikes Out Forgery Case Against Ozekhome As FG Withdraws Charges

Published

3 days ago

February 24, 2026

Eric

The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, bringing an abrupt pause to a case that had drawn public attention.

The charge was originally instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
It followed a judgment delivered by a London court over a property linked to the late former FCT minister, Jeremiah Useni.

In January, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the matter from the ICPC for what it described as effective prosecution.

However, proceedings took a new turn on Tuesday at the FCT High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Peter Kekemeke that the Federal Government was withdrawing the case file for “further instruction”.

He explained that the decision was taken in line with the provisions of Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Counsel to the defence, Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that his team had no objection to the withdrawal of the charge.

In a brief ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that since the application was not opposed, it was granted.

He consequently struck out the charge and ordered that the case be dismissed.

The withdrawal effectively halts legal action against Ozekhome over the alleged forgery linked to the disputed property transaction.