Govs back bid to scrap EFCC, ICPC

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Facts have emerged that some governors have backed the bid to scrap the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission.

One of the governors from the North-West told SUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja on Friday that he supported the move, noting that many of his colleagues had done so too.

He said they would advise President Goodluck Jonathan to abolish the two agencies as recommended by the Stephen Oronsaye-led committee on rationalisation of federal agencies, if consulted.

Another governor rammed his point home, “They (EFCC and ICPC) have been effectively used as political tools against those considered political enemies of any president in power.”

Oronsaye, a former Head of Service of the Federation, had last month recommended that the two anti-graft agencies be abolished, as they usurped the functions of the Police.

President Goodluck Jonathan, had after receiving the report, directed the setting up of a panel comprising bureaucrats to study its recommendations, and issue a White Paper.

A governor from the North-West said, “Our views have not been sought. But I know Nigerians would view our support for scrapping the two agencies from the position that governors are corrupt, and therefore, would not want the agencies to exist.

“But the charges against us are mere allegations. How many former governors have the two agencies convicted so far?

 “Apart from the EFCC that made the arrest and prosecution of some former governors a showbiz, tell me, what has the ICPC done?

“Even the EFCC, which some would say, has done better, the majority of the prosecutions are done on the pages of newspapers.

“If the scrapping will lead to efficiency of the Police, which are primarily saddled with such responsibilities, why not (support it)?”

But another governor from the North-Central, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that scrapping the two agencies would not serve any purpose for the governors.

He said Nigerians had been brainwashed to the extent that they “believe that all governors are corrupt and will naturally support the scrapping of the two agencies.

“So, if I say support it, they would say, don’t mind him, it is expected. They are all corrupt.

“But can Nigerians say in all honesty that these two agencies have done well, considering the amount of money that has been invested in them?

“Well, it is the duty of the Federal Government to decide either to scrap or not, after all, we were not consulted before they were created.

However, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, declined to be categorical on the matter.

According to him, such issues are on the exclusive list.

Amaechi spoke through the state Commissioner of Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.

“Federal issues are on the exclusive list,” she noted.

A principal officer of the House of Representatives told our correspondent that its leadership was waiting for a report from the President on the matter, as the EFCC and other agencies proposed for scrapping were created by Acts of the National Assembly.

He disclosed that a lawmaker had brought the matter for discussion under “issue of national importance” but was advised to table it as a motion.

According to the principal officer “the House put the debate on hold to allow the Executive arm of government complete its action on the rationalisation of the agencies.”

Since 2007, the EFCC has taken no fewer than 18 former governors to court for corruption, money laundering and theft of public funds, two of whom had been convicted.

Those so far convicted are, Chiefs Diepriye Alamieyesiagha (Bayelsa); and Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State.

But the trials of Saminu Turaki (Jigawa) charged with alleged N36bn fraud; Dr. Chimaraoke Nnamani (Enugu) allegedly involved in N5.3bn fraud; Orji Uzo Kalu (Abia) N5bn; Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo) N6bn; Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) N15bn, among others, have been stalled since they vacated office in 2007.

The ex-governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who left office on May 29, 2011, and Timipriye Slyva of Bayelsa Bayelsa, have swelled the ranks of these former state chief executives under EFCC’s hook.

Some of these ex-governors have been exploring ways of undermining the EFCC.

SUNDAY PUNCH had exclusively reported last October of their meeting on October 18, 2011 in Asokoro, in the house of one of them from the South-East, to map out strategies on how to frustrate Federal Government’s plan to set up special courts to fast-track their trials.

The parley ended with a resolution to send a delegation to President Goodluck Jonathan, to seek help in possible reduction of EFCC’s clampdown on them.

Culled from The Punch.

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Simply Cheska...

A similar plot was hatched during the Presidency of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, which climaxed in the removal of EFCC’s pioneer chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, shortly after he had arrested Mr. James Ibori, and put him on trial.

Ibori, a former Delta State governor, was however, sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in London for the same offences, which a Federal High Court in Asaba, set him free after striking out 170 charges against him.

Oronsaye, whose committee recommended the reduction of the existing 263 statutory agencies in the country to 161, abolition of 38 agencies among others, had said, “It was noted that the functions of EFCC and ICPC are the traditional functions of the Nigeria Police.

“The committee observed that even though the two commissions were established separately to address corruption, which the Police appeared to have failed to do, successive administrations have ironically continued to appoint the Chairman of the EFCC from the Police Force, while the methodology adopted by the ICPC in conducting investigations as well as the training of its personnel in investigation procedure is carried out by the Police.

“One wonders if it was really expedient to dismember the Nigeria Police rather than allow it to evolve as a vibrant and effective agency.”

According to him, the fact that an institution is inefficient and ineffective should not be a basis for the creation of new ones.