Looters List: APC Chieftains Facing Trial For Corruption

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made good the ‘threat’ of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to release the ‘list of looters’ under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“This list is just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available. Some of the people on this list are seeking a plea bargain, and that is a fact.

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“We insist that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP, and the starting point in tendering an apology is for them to return the loot,” Mohammed said on Friday in Lagos while unveiling the list that included five names; Uche Secondus, National Chairman of the PDP; Olisah Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP; Raymond Dokpesi, founder and owner of DAAR Communications owners of AIT/Raypower; Dudafa Owei, SSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Robert Azibaola, a cousin of Jonathan.

On its part, the PDP has released a list containing ministers, governors and officials of this regime that were its members that should have made the list.

The WHISTLER looks into its archives and brings some former governors facing corruption charges in various courts preferred against them by the EFCC:

Abdullahi Adamu

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The former governor of Nasarawa state for eight years was charged to on March 3, 2010, alongside 18 others on a 149-count charge of fraud to the tune of N15 billion, before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

Others arraigned alongside the former governor were: Alhaji Halilu Bala Usman, Alhaji Usman Aboki, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Prince and Princes Limited, Jonabel Engineering Nigeria Limited, JCC International, Mbani Construction Company Limited, Shinco Nigeria Limited, Henry N Nick Associates Limited, Water Search Nigeria, Sneccu Group of Companies, Nicas Industry Limited, Addais Nigeria Limited, Faslan Ventures Limited, Yoojin Nigeria, Kiagama Con Limited, Sharafa Bros Nigeria and Riok International.

Adamu, who is now a senator and one of the strong allies of President Muhammadu Buhari, saw his son, Nuriani Amadamu, arraigned by the EFCC before Justice J.K. Daggard of the Federal High Court, Kano over alleged money laundering.

Nuraini was arraigned alongside one Felix Onyago on an amended six-count charge bordering on money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds of N32 million.

Joshua Dariye

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A former Plateau State governor, Dariye’s trial began on July 13, 2007, with a 23-count charge of defrauding the state of about N1.6 billion.

Dariye had sought to dodge trial, but the Supreme Court dismissed his application on February 27, 2015 and ordered him to go face his trial.

Dariye’s trial recommenced on January 25, 2016, with the prosecution having so far presented 16 witnesses, including Peter Clark, a former UK Met Police, who investigated him in the United Kingdom.

Musiliu Obanikoro

A former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, is alleged to have embezzled N800 million from about N4.7 billion stolen from a budget designated for procurement of weaponry and other equipment for the Nigerian military to enhance its fight against Islamist militant group, Boko Haram.

Initially, Obanikoro who on a run from the country returned and decamped to the APC.

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The former minister’s two sons, Babajide and Gbolahan, are also accused of corruption and have been on the run.

Orji Uzor Kalu

In October 2016, the EFCC re-arraigned the former Abia state governor before a federal high court in Lagos on 34 counts of money laundering.

Kalu was first arraigned in 2007 on a 96-count charge of money laundering. Controversy crept into his trial when lawyers from the office of the attorney-general of the federation went to court, during the tenure of Michael Andoakaa, to contest the power of the EFCC to prosecute Kalu.

Kalu challenged the competence of the charge and the power of the EFCC to prosecute him. This preliminary issue was argued up to the Supreme Court, delaying trial.

After a lengthy legal battle, the Supreme Court in 2016, ordered him to stand trial.

The EFCC alleged that Kalu, between August 7, 2001 and December 2005, while he was governor, used state funds to purchase Slok Nigeria Limited.

The anti-graft agency alleged that he laundered the funds through Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Fin Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

In counts one to 10, Kalu was alleged to have, between August 13, 2003 and August 10, 2005, acquired Slok Nigeria Limited as well as retained in his account domiciled with the Apapa branch of First Inland Bank Plc, the total sum of N2.502,600 billion.

Danjuma Goje

Now a serving senator, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a N5 billion fraud charge against the former Gombe state governor at the Federal High Court in Gombe.

Goje is standing trial alongside Alhaji Aliyu U. El-Nafaty, Dokoro Gombe (aka S.M Dokoro) and Alhaji Sabo Mohammed Tumu.

Timipre Sylva

The EFCC had charged Sylva to court for stealing about N6.5 billion from the Bayelsa State treasury while he was in power.

The anti-graft agency maintained that the said fraud was perfected between October 2009 and February 2010.

EFCC alleged that the accused person looted public funds under false pretence of using the monies to augment salaries of the Bayelsa State government.

But in a curious twist, the anti-graft agency in 2015 entered a no-case submission against Sylva and saw the case thrown out by Justice A. Ademola leading to 48 houses seized from him being returned.

Murtala Nyako

Nyako is facing trial in N29 billion fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He is being prosecuted alongside his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

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