A four years old report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has re-surfaced detailing how Politically Exposed Persons(PEPs) in Nigeria acquired choice property in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dissociated itself from what it described as “a phantom report circulating in sections of the media claiming it has released a full list of ex- governors being investigated for alleged corruption.”
Why the Carnegie report re-surfaced at about the time an ‘outlandish’ report was published is unclear but the anti-graft agency says the report headlined: “EFCC Releases Full List of 58 Ex- Governors that Embezzled N2 .187 Trillion”, in one of the news outlets, is false and mischievous as the Commission neither issued the said list nor entertained discussions on investigation of ex-governors with any news medium.
Its spokesman, Mr. Dele Oyewale adds: “This invariably means that the so-called list is a disingenuous fabrication designed to achieve motives known only to the authors.
“The public is enjoined to ignore the report as it is false and misleading.
“The media is advised to endeavour to crosscheck facts pertaining to matters under investigation with the Commission to avoid misleading the public with false and inaccurate reports.”
Recall that three days ago, the media was agog with reports that 58 former governors are have faced or are facing issues with with EFCC on financial crimes to the tune of over N2 trillion.
Those listed were late Abubakar Audu (N10.966 bn), TA Orji and sons (N551 bn), Yahaya Bello (N80.2 bn), Chimaroke Nnamani (N5. 3 bn), Sullivan Chime (N450 million), Kayode Fayemi (N4bn), Ayo Fayose (N6.9 bn), Abdullahi Adamu (N15bn), Danjuma Goje (N5bn), Aliyu Wamakko (N15 bn), Sule Lamido (N1.35 bn), Joshua Dariye (N1. 16 bn) and Timipre Sylva (N19.2 bn).
The list also included Saminu Turaki (N36bn), Orji Uzor Kalu (N7. 6bn), Bello Matawalle (N70 bn), Lucky Igbinedion (N4. 5 bn), Musa Kwakwanso (N10bn), Peter Odili (N100 bn), Jolly Nyame (N1.64 bn), James Ngilari (N167 m), Abdulaziz Yari (N84 bn), Godswill Akpabio (N100bn), Abdul fatah Ahmed (N9 bn), Ali Modu-Sheriff (N300bn), Willie Obiano (N43 bn), Ibrahim Dankwambo (N1. 3bn), Darius Ishaku (N39bn) and Ramalan Yero (N700m).
Also on the infamous list are:Achike Udenwa (N350m), Rochas Okorocha (N10. 8bn), James Ibori (N40 bn), DSP Alamieyeseigha (N2.655bn), Gabriel Suswam (N3. 111bn), Samuel Ortom (N107bn), Murtala Nyako (N29bn), Rashidi Ladoja (4.7bn), Christopher Alao-Akala (N11. 5 bn), and Abdulkadir Kure (N600m).
The rest include Babangida Aliyu (N4bn), Idris Wada (N500m), Ibrahim Shekarau (N950m), Adamu Aliero (N10bn), Usman Dakingari and wife (N5. 8bn), Attahiru Bafarawa N19. 6bn), Jonah Jang (N6.3bn), Aliyu Doma (N8bn), Tanko Al-Makura (N4bn), Boni Haruna (N93bn), Bindow Jibrila (N62bn), Adamu Muazu (13bn), Isa Yuguda N212bn) and Mohammed Abubakar (N8. 5bn).
Last January, the commission reportedly said that it would revisit the N772 billion alleged fraud cases against 13 former governors.
The Carnegie report mentioned 800 properties in Dubai with alleged Nigerian links, though commentators are of the opinion the number may have increased given the quantum of corruption in Abuja and the states in the last four years.
The four years old report titled Dubai Property: An Oasis for Nigeria’s Corrupt Political Elites, can be found at: https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/03/19/dubai-property-oasis-for-nigeria-s-corrupt-political-elites-pub-81306
