Dino Melaye sues ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State over alleged N57b loot of state fund

Former Nigerian lawmaker, Dino Melaye, has sued ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State over alleged corruption, looting and massive misappropriation of state funds. 

The former lawmaker accuses Idris of squandering N57 billion of the state’s fund during an eight-month period that the Supreme Court decided that the governor overstayed in office.


Melaye, who heads an anti-corruption network, wants Ibrahim Idris declared guilty of looting the funds spent by his administration within a period that the Supreme Court declared the administration illegal. The court ruling was handed down last year.

Melaye’s lawsuit commenced yesterday in a Lokoja High Court, with I. Akubo appearing as the former governor’s defense lawyer.

Mr. Idris was removed from office alongside four other governors last year after a ruling by the Supreme Court held that they were enjoying an illegally extended tenure. The other governors affected by the ruling were Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and Liyel Imoke of Cross River State. 
All five governors removed by the Supreme Court judgment belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Melaye’s suit was adjourned to May 15, 2013.