There are indications that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abukakar Malami, is set to reopen corruption cases levelled against some former governors who were in previous regimes investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC). Sources in the ICPC confirmed to The PUNCH on Monday that the commission had, last week, received a letter from AGF’s office, giving the anti-graft agency a directive to that effect.
According to the source, those whoses cases may be reopened include some who had been convicted for charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). Others are currently undergoing trial on charges initiated against them by the EFCC at either the various divisions of the Federal High Court or the High Courts of their home states. There are about five of the former governors, who are now serving senators. Some of them had served as senators after completing two terms as governors.
Another source, however, said a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was convicted in the United Kingdom for fraud-related charges and still serving his prison terms, was on the list. Apart from Ibori, two former governors from the South-South, are said to be on the list. Five of the former governors are from the South-East, and three from the South-West while the ex-governors, whose cases would be reopened, included six from the North-West; six from the North-East, and eight from the North-Central.
Part of the AGF’s letter, sighted by PUNCH correspondent on Monday, stated that: “It is clear that some of these governors and other politically-exposed persons have not been charged to court despite the fact that the ICPC has concluded their investigations concerning allegations levelled against them for one reason or the other. It is the position of the present administration that all ex-governors that the ICPC had long concluded investigations into the various allegations levelled against them should be immediately prosecuted.” The AGF letter defines high-profile cases as cases “involving alleged misconduct amounting to economic sabotage; involving complex financial transactions or property movement; involving any of the suspects, who is a politician, a public officer or judicial officer; and where the subject matter involves government or corruption of its official or involves the abuse of office.”
