Nyame, Kalu, five other ex-govs still facing trial —EFCC

Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren
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The Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, has said that seven former governors are still facing trial for money laundering offences.

He also said that the commission had recovered N65,320,669,350.35 between 2012 and 2014.

Uwujaren, who said this during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, added that the commission also recovered $245, 952,030.13 during the period.

The EFCC spokesman made the comment while debunking an alleged claim by a dismissed member of staff of the EFCC that the commission had not achieved anything during a policy Dialogue of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos.

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But Uwajaren said, “Between 2012 and 2014, the commission recovered N65,320,669,350.35. Also, the sum of $245, 952,030.13 and €693, 399.00 was also recovered during the period.”

The EFCC spokesman, who also commented on the cases against some ex-governors, said that the commission’s cases against seven governors on money laundering and related cases were ongoing in various court in the country.

He said that the case against the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was suspended as a result of his election and current status.

The ex-governors, according to him, are Chimaroke Nnamani, Orji Kalu, Joshua Dariye, Abubakar Audu, Danjuma Goje, Akwe Doma, Rev. Jolly Nyame.

“The cases involving former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu, a former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje, a former Nasarawa State governor, Akwe Doma, a former Taraba State governor, Rev. Jolly Nyame are progressing in courts, as several witnesses have been called by the prosecution.

“Of course, the case against Ayodele Fayose has only been temporarily halted by the fact of his re-election as Ekiti State governor,” he added

He stated also that while Orji Kalu was still challenging the competence of the commission to file charges against him, Joshua Dariye had been ordered to go on trial by the Supreme Court where he had gone to challenge the verdict of the Court of Appeal that the commission could file charges against him.

Uwujaren said that the commission had closed the cases against three ex-governors, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State who was convicted but got state pardon, Chief James Ibori of Delta State who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom and Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State who was also convicted.

He stated that the commission also seized several properties from the governors facing prosecution.

The EFCC spokesman also said that the commission might declare a former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, wanted for refusing to honour an invitation from the commission.

The commission had invited Sheriff on April 25, 2015 over allegations of financial misappropriation, embezzlement and abuse of office.