The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revived money laundering proceedings against 13 former governors and seven former ministers, totaling approximately N853.8 billion.
The EFCC has opened an investigation into high-profile cases involving former governors and ex-ministers totaling N772.2 billion; however, the anti-graft agency is now probing N81.6 billion allegedly plundered from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
However, an additional $2.2 billion has since been reported stolen as a result of money laundering, cash diversion, and theft. The $2.2 billion was reportedly syphoned by former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, late media magnate Raymond Dokpesi, former governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Bafarawa, and former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, among others.
According to the EFCC, the funds were intended for armaments acquisition in support of the war on terrorism, but were laundered, misdirected, and misused.
While Dasuki was detained by the Department of State Services in 2015, the EFCC arrested Dokpesi, Bafarawa, Yuguda, and others.
They were all detained after being indicted by a presidential commission that looked into weaponry acquisition during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.
The committee stated that about $2.2 billion was diverted for reasons other than weapons purchase.
Among those affected are Former Ekiti State governors Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili; former Abia State governor, Theodore Orji; former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje; former Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamako; former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva; and former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido.
cc: Punch Ng
