2011 ELECTION

EFCC Keep Watch On Personalities 

Involved In High Profile Cases

Posted by: Lateef Lawal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) is keeping  a very close watch on people involved in high profile corruption and fraud charges at various courts across the country to forestall their foray into contesting the 2011 Elections.

To this end, the anti-graft agency has on its lists not less than 15 former governors and several other ex-ministers and chief executives of Federal agencies are on the list of those standing trial or have their appeals pending before either the Federal Appeal Courts or the Supreme Court.

First on the high profile cases watch-list is the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, who is having a 51-count charge of corruption pending against him since 2007; next is former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye, whose N700million alleged fraud case will come up on 27,October,2010.

Others are Alhaji Saminu Turaki, ex-Jigawa State governor who was arraigned before the court over a N36billion alleged fraud, Chief Orji Uzo Kalu, ex-Abia State governor who was granted bail since 2008 in N5billion alleged fraud case, former governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame is standing trial over a N1.3billion corruption charges, Chimaroke Nnamani, ex-Enugu State is also facing N5.3billion fraud charges, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, former governor of Nasarawa State was arraigned by the EFCC on a N15billion charges of fraudulent enrichment and corruption and Haliru Bafarawa former Sokoto State governor also standing trial on N15billion fraud charges.

Still on the high profile cases watch lists are-Ms Adenike Grange whose N300million corruption charges comes up at the Federal High Court on 27,October,2010, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello is also standing trial on similar charge of N10million corrupt enrichment, the former governor of Plateau State, Michael Boatmang , standing trial for allegedly corruptly enriching himself with the State fund to the tune of N1.5billion.

Roland Iyayi, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) is standing trial along with the one time Aviation Minister, Professor Babalola Borishade over the N5.6billion Safe Tower  project scandal.

Femi Fani-Kayode, also a former Aviation Minister charged for alleged fraud totaling N270million, but this particular case was struck out at the lower court but EFCC won the continuation of the trial at the Federal Appeal Court, however the ex-Minister has appealed against it at the Supreme court.

Boni  Haruna, ex-governor of Adamawa’s N254million corruption case comes up again in November 2010 same with that of ex-governor Rasheed Ladoja’s N6billion.

The rest are- Kenny Martins charged over N774million Police Equipment Fund alleged swindling. The case is to be heard on 9,November,2010,Mallam Nasir El-Rufai standing on 8-count charge of corruption, Prince Ibrahim Dumuje N774million corruption charges, Senator Nicholas Ugbade and others standing trial on 158-count corruption charge totaling N5.2billion,Dr Yuguda Manu Kaigama, chairman of Taraba State Civil Service Commission arraigned over N17million fraud, while Chief Joe Musa, the Director General of National Art Gallery and others have their trial slated for November 19 and 20, 2010 over a N1.012billion alleged conspiracy  and fraud.

Not left out is the former boss of Intercontinental Bank, Dr Erastus Akingbola standing trial over N27billion fraud, Sanni Lulu and three other members of Nigeria Football Federation arraigned over N1.5billion fraud and Professor Innocent Chuka Okonkwo, the ex-Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, standing trial with others over N145million fraud which is already slated for trial in November 2010