Why EFCC failed to arraign detained ex-governors

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC explained yesterday why it failed to arraign yesterday as scheduled, the three former governors, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Alao Akala of Oyo and Akwe Doma of Nassarawa who were arrested last week saying it was due to the judges conference in Sokoto.

Spokesman of the anti-graft commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi said: “Our intention was to arraign them today (Monday) but we could not because of the Judges’ Conference, which started today in Sokoto State. However, we will go ahead with the prosecution on Tuesday in the governor’s respective states.” According to Babafemi, “As I speak to you now, they are on a plane to Abeokuta and Ibadan, respectively, where they are going to face prosecution for corruption and embezzlement of state funds. We are taking them to their respective states because of issues of jurisdiction, giving that they committed the crimes as leaders in their respective states”.

The immediate past governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, picked up by the EFCC, over alleged mismanagement of N25 billion meant for the state while he was the governor will this morning appear before Justice Abbas of the State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan. Also, his counterpart from Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel will appear before a State High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, today.

But in case of the third ex-governor, Akwe Doma, arrested at the same time, although he was governor of Nasarawa State, he will be arraigned in Abuja, the Federal Capital territory. According to EFCC sources, each of the former state Chief Executives who lost their immunity after leaving the different government house on May 29 will have to say what they know about charges filed against them which emanated from petitions written against them.

Meanwhile former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje yesterday at 5.20am surrendered himself to operatives of the EFCC, which had declared him wanted in connection with an alleged N52 billion fraud. Goje, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic, had gone into hiding since last Thursday following the arrest of three other governors, namely Gbenga Daniel, Adebayo Alao-Akala and Akwe Doma was said to have given himself up at the head office of the anti-graft agency in Wuse area of Abuja under the cover of darkness.

He was said to have been accompanied there by one Senator Alkali and a lawyer from Niyi Akintola chambers simply identified as Ms Sade. Meantime, Vanguard gathered that many of the loyalists of the ex-governors were not aware that their bosses would be arraigned today in court. Speaking on phone, the spokesperson to the embattled former Oyo governor, Prince Dotun Oyelade said he was not aware that the arraignment of his boss would come up today at the state High court.

He declined comments on the issue saying since the case is in court, it would be prejudice to comment on it. In his own words, Chief Dejo Afolabi also said he was not aware that the arraignment would come up and when asked if the party members were preparing to receive their leader, he asked what kind of preparation would they make but he quickly added that the necessary arrangement that should be made would be made.

Senator Lekan Balogun, who stood firmly against the second term bid of Akala, too, said he would not want to make any comments adding that since the matter had been taken to court, it would be better to allow justice to take its course. Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala could not be arraigned yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allege mismanagement of fund.

Though, it had been publicized that the ex-governor who is being for allegedly mismanaging N25billion meant for the state while he was the governor of the state, will be arraigned today, politicians and journalists who thronged the Federal High Court, Ibadan where the case was to be heard were disappointed as they waited endlessly. Initially, it was gathered that the case would come up at the Federal High Court, but, when loyalists of the ex-governor did not see him, information filtered in that the case would not be heard at the court because of the on-going Federal Judges Conference holding in Kano, all of them including some security men had to be shuttling between the state High court and the Federal Court.

It was later gathered that the anti graft commission did not perfect filing of necessary papers on the case. As at 4p.m yesterday, journalists were still waiting for the arrival of the EFCC officials and the ex-governor who were said to be on their way from Lagos. Many loyalists of the governor were still loitering around the court premises which was heavily fortified by the presence gun-wielding security men as at the time of filing this report.

The PDP Chairman of the faction of Akala in the state, Alhaji Dejo Afolabi had mobilized his party members at Ona Ara at the weekend to wait for the embattled ex-governor who, he said, would come out unblemished after the whole episode.

Source: Vanguard