Since its establishment in December 2002, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), only three governors have been jailed, a success many Nigerians long to see the anti-graft agency achieve again.
Ola Olukoyode, the new chairman of the EFCC, appeared to be a game changer in the country’s war against corruption. He has been vocal about his commitment to prosecuting any former governor found in the act.
Soon after resuming office, Olukoyode expressed the anti-graft agency’s readiness to revisit and restart some stalled multi-billionaire corruption cases, particularly against some former governors.
Some former governors have been accused of looting or mismanaging monies huge enough for health care centres, water, electricity, schools, good roads and other basic amenities for the people of their states, particularly those in the rural communities.
However, the prosecutions of the accused governors have either been stalled for political reasons or unnecessary technicalities by the court.
About 13 former governors were accused of stealing billions in their respective states. These former governors are either dragged or charged to court by the EFCC but their cases are yet to come to a logical conclusion.
This has raised concerns among Nigerians, who believe that some of the former governors are strong enough to not be tried by the anti-graft agency.
The 13 former governors whose cases have been stalled and the EFCC is likely to revisit are listed below:
1 Abdullahi Adamu, Nasarawa
2 Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, Sokoto
3 Ayo Fayose, Ekiti
4 Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu
5 Danjuma Goje, Gombe
6 Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti
7 Peter Odili, Rivers
8 Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano
9 Sullivan Chime, Enugu
10 Sule Lamido, Jigawa
11 Theodore OrjiAbia
12 Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa
13 Uzor Kalu, Abia
Below is the list of jailed former governor:
James Ibori
Ibori was Governor of Delta State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Ibori was member of People Democratic Party when he was Delta Governor. In 2012, Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in prison for money laundering.
Joshua Dariye
Dariye was elected governor of Plateau State in 1999 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but was impeached three years into his second term by eight or 24 lawmakers.
The EFCC charged Dariye with 23 counts bordering on money laundering. He was convicted on July 12, 2018, and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Jolly Nyame
He was elected governor of Taraba State in 1999 and served a two-term that ended in 2003.
Nyame was arrested by the EFCC and charged with N1.64 billion fraud. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Like his counterpart in Plateau, he was also pardoned by the administration of Buhari.
Why Buhari pardoned Dariye, Nyame
On April 14, 2022, the former president pardoned the two former governors serving their jailed terms and 157 other prisoners.
Premium Times reported that a source in the presidency disclosed that the two former governors were pardoned based on age and health grounds.
