EFCC Arrests Former Governors, Gbenga Daniel, Akala And Doma

Gbenga Daniel, Alao-Akala and ikedi Ohakim (at large)

Femi Babafemi, EFCC spokesperson, told SaharaReporters this morning that the former governors are currently undergoing interrogations surrounding corruption allegations in Abuja.

The anti-graft agency is targeting some nine ex-governors who may have mismanaged billions of naira within their respective states.

Those arrested today include Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and Alli Akwe Doma of Nassarawa State. It's unclear why the anti-graft agency has not arrested the former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim

Piles of petitions against state governors outlining their misuse of funds have been sent to the EFCC over several years.

Ex-governor Daniel was said to have been investigated over several allegations, one of which was as a result of his purchase of properties in the UK.

In a petition written by the former chairman of Ijebu-East local government area in Ogun State, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, running mate to the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Chief Adetunji Olurin, in the last election, Daniel reportedly distributed N738 million out of their N1.8bn to the 20 councils from their November 2009 allocation from the federation account.

Gbenga Daniel, has recently been in the news for his faltering "Compass Newspaper" business. In September workers went on strike in response to being owed approximately N100 million.

It was reported that Daniel could not afford to pay his staff due to N1.5 billion put into his governorship election in Ogun State.

Alao-Akala is reportedly being investigated over his running of Oyo state during the impeachment of his former boss, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

According to a PM News report, a petition against Akwe Doma, former Nassarawa state governor, was written by Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau Musa, Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Nasarawa State.

Alhaji Musa stated that Akwe Doma used his son, Umar, to funnel and steal nearly N9 billion.

The petition alleged that Nasarawa State Ministries increased their sums through fictitious backdated memos.

As a result of these findings an EFCC post has been established in Nassarawa State as well as the other states where fraud and money laundering speculations are high.

However, already, Nigerians are doubtful that these arrests will amount to any serious efforts to combat corruption in the nation.

Friends of Jonathan

Many Nigerians automatically assume that singling out the former governors who are members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) are only actions to enhance the political persona of President Goodluck Johnathan, who is currently on a three-nation tour in Africa.