The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disowned a widely circulated list of corrupt former governors under investigation.
On Friday a list of 58 former governors purportedly under investigation by EFCC made the rounds on Nigeria’s media space.
According to the now discredited report, the total amount looted by the ex-governors was N2.187 trillion.
But EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Sunday May 5 denounced the list as “false and mischievous“. He said it was a “disingenuous fabrication designed to achieve motives known only to the authors”.
Oyewale clarified that the agency has no such list nor engaged in discussions regarding investigations of ex-governors with any media outlet.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, feels obliged to dissociate itself from a phantom report circulating in sections of the media claiming it has released a full list of ex-governors being investigated for alleged corruption“, he said.
He advised media practitioners to verify information related to the work of the Commission directly with the Commission to prevent the spread of fake news.
However, at least one former governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is indeed facing charges of corruption by EFCC. The anti-graft agency allege Mr Bello laundered or misappropriated state funds to the tune of N84 billion while in office as governor of Kogi State.
As an instance, EFCC said Bello withdrew $720,000 from the state purse to pay for his children’s tuition fees in advance before leaving office on January 27, 2024.
Nigerians Expect More From EFCC
However, the fake list appear to have received positive reviews from Nigerians on social media. In a country bedevilled with state official corruption, many Nigerians hope the anti-corruption agency will hold more of elected public officers to account, especially after leaving office.
Since 1999 – when the 4th republic started, all 36 states of the federation have at one time or the other produced 170 governors. Currently 36 governors are serving and 134 are ex-governors who served for one or the maximum two terms.
However, among the 134 former governors, only four were ever convicted; Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), Lucky Igbinedion (Edo State), and the late DSP Alamieyeseigha (Bayelsa State).
Data from the EFCC’s website show the commission secured 6,981 convictions overall between 2020 and 2022 for all fraud related cases. Of these convictions, none was a former governor.
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