EFCC: we recovered N65.3b in two years

•Commission may declare Ali-Modu Sheriff wanted
•‘Fayose, Audu, Goje, Doma, Nyame, Turaki still on trial’

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it recovered about N65.3 billion between 2012 and 2014.

The commission added that it may declare former Borno State Governor Ali-Modu Sheriff wanted for failing to honour its invitation.

It, however, said Governor Ayodele Fayose and five ex-governors are still on trial.

The affected ex-governors are Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa) and Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba).

The commission made the clarifications at a briefing in Abuja by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, following criticisms by the Human Rights Writers Association as well as two of its dismissed staff, Ms Juliet Ibekaku and Michael Nzekwe.

Ibekaku had said: “In the past seven or eight years since EFCC started, we’ve been hearing about governors who have been in the courts for the past eight years, no conviction, nothing! No assets recovered.  And we are still (sic) back to square one.

“So, something has to change. And in my mind, what needs to change is the leadership.  The second thing that needs to change is the staffing. Who are we hiring to work in this place?”

But, Uwujaren said the commission has not failed in its responsibility.

He said between 2012 and 2014, the EFCC recovered about N65.3 billion and over $245.9 million.

He said: “Between 2012 and 2014, the commission recovered N65,320,669,350. Also, the sum of $245, 952,030.13, £693, 399.00 and €62,600 were also recovered during the period.”

On investigation and trial of some former governors, Uwujaren said Fayose and some ex-governors are still undergoing trial.

He said the EFCC might be forced to declare Sheriff wanted for failing to honour its invitation.

“We invited him (Sheriff) for questioning. As I speak to you, he did not honour that invitation.

“Once the commission invites a suspect in a matter and he fails to honour the invitation, options are opened to us. We might declare him wanted. Yes, we might do that.”

Sheriff is wanted for alleged mismanagement of N300 billion his administration received from the Federation Account between 2003 and 2011.”

He added: “The cases involving former Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu, former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje, former Nasarawa State Governor Akwe Doma, former Taraba State Governor Rev. Jolly Nyame are progressing in courts, as several witnesses have been called by the prosecution.

“Of course, the case against Ayodele Fayose has only been temporarily halted by the fact of his re-election as Ekiti State governor.

“We could go on and on. These records apply to cases involving ex-governors only.

“They do not tell the whole story regarding the prosecution and convictions record of the commission.”

Uwujaren said the EFCC has not abandoned cases involving some former governors, including Orji Uzor Kalu, Saminu Turaki, Lucky Igbinedion and Chimaroke Nnamani.

He said some properties were seized from some ex-governors, including Kalu (10 properties seized, 13 accounts frozen), DSP Alamieyeseigha (12 properties); Lucky Igbinedion (two properties); Nnamani (accounts of six firms linked to him frozen); and Saminu Turaki (six accounts of firms frozen).

He faulted the allegations of non-performance against the anti-graft agency by Ibekaku.

He added: “However, for Nigerians to see through her lies, it is important to recall some of the milestones achieved by the commission in the investigation, prosecution and recovery of assets of politically exposed persons, including ex-governors.

“Until he was pardoned by the government, it is on record that former Bayelsa State Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha was the first former state governor to be successfully prosecuted by the EFCC.

“Over N3 billion, which includes the proceeds realised from the sale of his properties has been returned to Bayelsa State. These properties include Chelsea Hotel, Abuja. Other real estate investment of Alamieyeseigha which accounts were frozen by the commission include:1.Plot 26 Dalhatu Close, Abacha Estate, Ikoyi;  2. 20 Obaji Street, Diobu Port Harcourt; 3. 1. Community Road, off Allen Avenue, Lagos;  4. 247, Water Gardens, London W2 2DG; 5. 14, Mapesbury Road, London NW2 4JB; 6. Flat 202, Jubilee Heights, Shootuphl L, London, NW2 3UQ; 7.   68-70, Regents Park Road, London; 8. 4A, Ilu Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos; 9. 18 Mississippi Street, Maitama, Abuja; 10. V & A Water Front, Cape Town, South Africa; 11.  2, Marcibit Street, Ishaku Rabiu Estate, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja; and 12.               24, Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.

“Another former governor, who was prosecuted and convicted by the Commission, is former Edo State governor Lucky Igbinedion. Apart from the conviction, the commission equally recovered some properties from him. The properties include: 1.   A property located at 57, Ihama Road, GRA, Benin and 2.   Another property located at 24, Izekor Road, Benin

“Following the furore generated by the option of fine handed the governor by the trial judge, the commission filed fresh charges against Lucky Igbinedion.

“The action was challenged in court with the trial court ruling that the commission cannot try the ex-governor on the same matter for which he had already been convicted.

“The EFCC appealed against the ruling with the Court of Appeal affirming the commission’s position that Igbinedion really has a case to answer.

“Following that, two of his accomplices, his younger brother, Michael Igbinedion and his Personal Assistant, Charles Eboigbodin, who were charged alongside the former governor, were successfully prosecuted and convicted, just last month (April 29, 2015, precisely).”

He added: “The case involving Chimaroke Nnamani, former Enugu State governor, has been in court since he was first arraigned in 2007 alongside Sunday Anyaogu, his then aide and six firms linked to them:  Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

“EFCC in 2014 sought for a separate trial of the companies and on May 19, 2015, the companies pleaded guilty to an amended 10-count charge. We await the court pronouncement on the fate of the assets.

“Former Governor Orji Kalu’s case is currently at the Supreme Court, where he is challenging the competence of the charge after the court of appeal affirmed the trial court’s ruling that he has a case to answer.

“The commission has, however, seized the following properties belonging to the former Abia State governor. They include: 1. Property at 9A, Queen Amina Road, Ungwan, Rimi GRA, Maiduguri;  2.  Bungalow at 21, Gwari Avenue, Behind Gerau Hospital, Off Kachia Road, Maiduguri;  3.  Parcel of land at Kirikiri Industrial Estate, Lagos;  4. Block of flats at Plot 103A Olumeni Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt;  5.   Identical duplex at Plot 65, No. 7& 8. Orogburn Crescent, Diobu GRA 11, Port Harcourt;  6.  3 Nos bedroom bungalow plus adjourning buildings at Mairi Village, Maiduguri, Borno State; 7. 3 bedroom bungalow at GRA Maiduguri, Borno State; 8.  Warehouse at Mairi village, Maiduguri;  9.  Former Progress Bank Building, No. 45, Baga Road, Maiduguri; and 10. Former Orji Alex Bakery, Bulunkutu, Seleke, Maiduguri.”

Uwujaren added that several accounts in various banks linked to the former governor’s companies were also frozen by the commission.

“The accounts include those belonging to: 1.Tourism Development Area, Gambia; 2.  Slok Investment Limited; 3. Slok USA INC;  4. Slok Nigeria Limited; 5. The Sun Publishing;  6. Astel Offshore; 7. Neva Nigeria Limited; 8. Reality Organization; 9.   Kachi Agwu Enterprises; 10.  Menco Resources Limited; 11. Nnachison & Co;  12. Slok Air Nigeria Limited; and 13. Firmbase Inter Limited,” the EFCC’s spokesman said.

He explained that the accounts of companies linked to Turaki were also frozen by the commission.

“The companies are: 1. INC Natural Resources Limited, 7 Civic Centre Road, Kano; 2. Wildcat Nigeria Limited, 31 Kuta Road, Minna, Niger State; 3.  Arlek Construction Nigeria Limited, 7 Civic Centre Road, Kano;  4. Gethel Nigeria Limited, 7 Civic Centre Road, Kano; 5.  Wallong Camco Nigeria Limited, Tukur Commercial Layout, Dutse; and 6. Gansu Construction Engineering Limited,” he said.

“For Joshua Dariye, who was recently ordered to proceed to trial after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal against the Appeal Court affirmation of the competence of the commission’s charges against him, the following properties were recovered from him: 1.   Property at Plot 1802 Ao4, No. 19 Frederick Chiuba Close, Asokoro, Abuja;  2. Plot of land in the name of Jambo Holdings Nigeria Limited, Rayfield, Jos; 3.  House No. 11, Rest Road, Jos ; 4. Plot of land at Gada Village, off Adiko Bukuru Road By Pharm Headquarters, Jos; 5. Plot of land at Liberty Boulevard, Jos;  6.Plot of Land at Ibrahim Taiwo Avenue, Jos;  7. Two additional plots along Dogon Dutse Road, Jos;  8.Plot of land at Gold & Base Neighbourhood, Jos; and 9. Plot of land known as Yelwa Club, Bukuru, Jos.

“In the case involving former Delta State governor James Ibori, whose conviction in a London court was largely based on the evidence supplied by the EFCC, the commission secured the final forfeiture of the $15 million bribe, which he allegedly offered to a former chairman of the commission, to the Federal Government.

“Let it be emphasised once again, that in apportioning sanctions to Ms. Ibekaku, along with her co-traveler, Michael Nzekwe and nine others who were dismissed from the commission, EFCC was guided by its Staff Regulations and extant Public Service Rules.

“Ms. Ibekaku is challenging her dismissal at the National Industrial Court and we call on her to allow the court rule on her application and not to engage in acts tantamount to self-help, which only highlights among other acts unbecoming of a public officer, the reason she was dismissed from EFCC in the first place: gross indiscipline,” he said.