Michael AndeyinOn Wednesday, stories made the rounds that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, had finally honoured an invitation that was extended to him five months ago by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello and three others are currently facing a 19-count charge for money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
The commission declared Bello wanted in April after he reportedly shunned a series of invitations and resisted arrest.
On April 17, some EFCC operatives visited the former governor’s Abuja residence to effect his arrest but they did not succeed. The incident subsequently forced the commission to declare him wanted.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Yahaya Bello ‘Remains Wanted’, Not With EFCC
On Wednesday evening, the anti-graft commission denied having the former governor in its custody.
Apart from Bello, 33 other former governors have been prosecuted by the commission for corruption-related offences. While some of the cases are still ongoing, some were struck out and, more importantly, six of these governors have been convicted.
The table below reveals the prosecuted governors’ names and the respective charges:
EX GOVERNORSTATETENURE IN OFFICEEFCC CHARGEAMOUNT ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLEDSTATUSAttahiru BafarawaSokoto1999 – 200725-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds.N4.6 BillionOngoingAbdulfatah AhmedKwara2011 – 201912-count charge bordering on alleged mismanagement of public funds.N10 billionOngoingGabriel SuswamBenue2007 – 201511-count charge bordering on money laundering.N3.1 billionOngoingMurtala NyakoAdamawa2007 – 201437-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.N29 billionOngoingTimipre SylvaBayelsa2007 – 201142-count charge against Sylva for allegedly stealing state fundN19.2 billionCase dropped by the courtSule LamidoJigawa2007 – 201537 amended charges bordering on money laundering.N1.35 billionCase squashed by Appeal Court. Awaiting Supreme Court ruling.Ayo FayoseEkiti2003 – 2006; 2014 – 2018Fraud and money laundering.N6.9 billionOngoingChimaroke NnamaniEnugu1999 – 2007Money laundering from state treasury.N5.3 billionFour of Nnami’s companies were forfeited to the federal governmentSullivan ChimeEnugu2007 – 2015Charged for the role he played in the spending of a campaign fund that originated from Dieziani Allison-Madueke.N23 billionCase reopenedAbdullahi AdamuNasarawa1999 – 2007149-count charge of fraudN15 billionUnclearDanjuma GojeGombe2003 – 2011Diversion of state fundsN25 billionCorruption charge was withdrawnPeter OdiliRivers1999 – 2007Diversion of state fundsN100 billionCase reopenedAbubakar AuduKogi1999 – 200336-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds.N10 billionAudu died in 2015Gbenga DanielOgun2003 – 201138-count charge of stealing public funds, bribery, fraudulent conversion of public property and false declaration of assets.N211 millionThe case was dismissed in 2022Saminu TurakiJigawa1999 – 200732-count charge of corruption and money laundering.N36 billionAcquitted by court in 2022Rochas OkorochaImo2011 – 201917-count charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing, conversion of public funds, and money laundering.N3 billionThe case was dismissed in 2023Ikedi OhakimImo2007 – 2011Prosecuted for making a $2 million payment for land purchase.$2 millionUnclearJonah JangPlateau2007 – 2015Criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of state funds.N6.3 billionJang was acquitted in 2022Usman DakingariKebbi2007 – 201513-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.N450 million—Mukhtar Ramalan YeroKaduna2012 – 2015Illegal disbursement of campaign fundsN750 millionOngoingIbrahim ShemaKatsina2007 – 201522-count charge of criminal breach of trust, forgery and abuse of office.N11 billionThe case was later withdrawnRashidi LadojaOyo2003 – 2006; 2006 – 2007FraudN4.6 billionThe case was struck outAdebayo Alao-AkalaOyo2007 – 201111-count charge bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy and fraudulent practices.N11.5 billionDischarged and acquitted in 2021Aliyu Akwe-DomaNasarawa2007 – 201110-count charge bordering on financial crimes.N8 billionAkwe-Doma died in 2018James NgilariAdamawa2007 – 2008Violation of procurement laws in the award of a contract.N167 millionAcquitted by an Appeal Court in 2017Willie ObianoAnambra2014 – 2022Nine-count charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing, and corruption.N4 billionOngoingJoshua DariyePlateau1999 – 2004; 2004 – 2006Misappropriation of public funds.N1.1 billionConvicted and sentenced to 14 years in prisonJolly NyameTaraba1999 – 2007Abuse of office and diversion of public funds.N1.64 billionConvicted and sentenced to 12 years in prisonLucky IgbinedionEdo1999 – 2007Embezzlement of state fundsN2.9 billionSix months imprisonment with the option of a N3.5 million fineJames IboriDelta1999 – 2007Money laundering and related offences.£50 millionSentenced to 13 years in prison by a UK courtDiepreye AlamieyeseighaBayelsa1999 – 2005Money laundering and corruption offences.More than $30 millionSentenced to two years in prisonOrji Uzor KaluAbia1999 – 200736-count charge that included the diversion of public fundN7.1 billionSentenced to 12 years in prison. Later set free by the Supreme Court in 2020
The post TABLE: 33 Ex-Governors — Like Yahaya Bello — Prosecuted for Corruption by EFCC appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.
