New EFCC Chair, Ola Olukoyede, Takes the Helm to Tackle 25 Abandoned Cases Against Former Governors, Others

The newly appointed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has stepped into his role with a formidable challenge on his hands – addressing 25 high-profile corruption cases involving former governors, ministers, senators, and other prominent figures.

High-Stakes Corruption Cases

Some of these cases have been ongoing for several years, with no conclusive end in sight. The total amount involved in these high-profile cases is estimated to be not less than N772.2 billion and another $2.2 billion, suspected to have been misappropriated through money laundering, fund diversion, and financial misconduct.

List of Notable Figures

Several former governors have been implicated in these investigations, including:

Dr. Kayode Fayemi – Immediate past governor of Ekiti State

Ayo Fayose – Former governor of Ekiti State

Bello Matawalle – Former governor of Zamfara State and incumbent Minister of State for Defence

Chimaroke Nnamani – Former governor of Enugu State

In addition to the governors, other notable figures include:

Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.) – Former National Security Adviser under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

Diezani Alison-Madueke – Former Minister of Petroleum Resources

Current Status of Cases

While some former governors have faced invitations and charges, many of these cases remain unresolved or have faced setbacks in the legal process. For example:

Bello Matawalle was accused of diverting N70 billion from Zamfara State’s treasury.

Chimaroke Nnamani was charged with an alleged N5.3 billion fraud, but the case was struck out in 2018, with the agency promising to file fresh charges.

Abdullahi Adamu was accused of N15 billion fraud during his tenure as Nasarawa State governor.

Rabiu Kwankwaso was interrogated by the EFCC over alleged non-remittance of N10 billion pension fund.

Peter Odili’s case involving N100 billion fraud in Rivers State has been pending, despite previous legal injunctions.

Theodore Orji and his sons were probed for alleged misappropriation of public funds and money laundering to the tune of N551 billion.

Danjuma Goje was initially charged with N5 billion fraud but handed over to the office of the Attorney-General, where the case subsequently stalled.

Aliyu Wammako was accused of allegedly diverting N15 billion but has not been charged to court.

Timipre Sylva was implicated in a N19.2 billion money laundering case with the matter pending before the appellate court.

Sullivan Chime was accused of mismanaging Enugu State’s resources and receiving part of the N23 billion allegedly shared by Diezani Alison-Madueke, with no recent updates on his case.

Ali Modu Sheriff was arrested for alleged embezzlement of public funds but was granted bail.

Sule Lamido, Aminu, and Mustapha faced trial for alleged N1.35 billion fraud.

Murtala Nyako was accused of money laundering to the tune of N29 billion, and the case was ordered to return to the Federal High Court in January 2022.

Ayodele Fayose’s N6.9 billion fraud case is ongoing.

Jonah Jang was charged with N6.3 billion fraud; the court acquitted him, but the EFCC planned to appeal.

Babangida Aliyu and two others were accused of diverting N2 billion ecological fund.

Gabriel Suswam was investigated for alleged N3.1 billion money laundering charges, and the trial court adjourned the case to May 2023.

Ikedi Ohakim faced prosecution for $2.2 million fraud.

Lucky Igbinedion was charged with N1.6 billion fraud.

Stella Oduah was charged with alleged N5 billion fraud.

Olukoyede’s Pledge

The new EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who took office on Thursday, has pledged to reposition and refocus the commission for optimal effectiveness. He emphasized professionalism, adherence to the rule of law, and a greater focus on prevention rather than prosecution.

Legal Community’s Perspective

Various senior lawyers have voiced their concerns and expectations, highlighting the need for the EFCC to pursue these high-profile cases vigorously:

Victor Okpara stressed the importance of holding all financial and economic crime offenders accountable, regardless of their status.

Mutalubi Adebayo urged the EFCC to prosecute former governors who are now ministers, as their immunity no longer protects them.

Olatunde criticized the lack of political will in prosecuting past governors and politicians and emphasized the need for the EFCC to act without fear or favor.

Prof Samson Erugo highlighted the agency’s emphasis on “yahoo-yahoo” cases over high-profile politicians.

Afam Osigwe urged the EFCC to discharge its duties without discrimination, holding all offenders responsible for their actions.

Babatunde Ajibade emphasized the importance of going after all offenders, whether they are “yahoo boys” or former governors.

The challenges facing the new EFCC chairman are significant, but his commitment to professionalism and adherence to the rule of law indicates a strong intent to address these complex and long-standing cases of corruption.

As Mr. Olukoyede begins his tenure, Nigerians will be closely watching to see if the EFCC can deliver justice in these high-profile cases and restore confidence in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.