The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested and began questioning three former governors over accusations of corruption when they were in office.
Former Nasarawa state governor Aliyu Akwe Doma was grabbed in Abuja, while his counterparts Gbenga Daniel of Ogun and Adebayo Alao-Akala were flown in from Lagos to join him at the commission’s headquarters.
The three were being questioned over allegations of misappropriation of public funds when they held sway as governors of their states.
Daniel was a two-term governor until May this year, while Doma and Alao-Akala served one term in 2007-2011.
Spokesman for the EFCC Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest of the former governors, saying yesterday afternoon that Doma was at the commission’s office in Abuja, and Daniel and Alao-Akala were being flown from Lagos.
Later last night, he told Daily Trust that all the three former governors were being detained in Abuja, and that they were likely to remain there overnight.
Daniel is accused of defrauding the state of N58 billion; Alao-Akala of N25 billion; and Doma of N18 billion, Babafemi said.
He said the three were being questioned as part of investigation of petitions against them.
Babafemi did not say when they would be released or when they would be charged to court.
A report at the weekend said the Attorney General of the Federation had given the EFCC the go-ahead to prosecute four former governors, among them the three arrested yesterday.
Asked if the commission would arrest the other named former governors, Babafemi said, “I don’t work on speculations; these are the ones that I have.”
When contacted for comments yesterday, spokesman for Alao-Akala, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said he was not aware of the arrest of his principal.
But Dr. Festus Adedayo, spokesman for incumbent Oyo governor Abiola Ajimobi, said, “Though the arrest is a vindication of our earlier allegation of the predatory clean-up of the state’s patrimony for four years by the Alao-Akala government, the present government does not want to gloat over the fate of the former governor. We only enjoin both the EFCC and the judiciary to allow justice to be done.”
In another reaction, the chairman of Ibadan North West local government area of the state, Mr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, described Alao-Akala’s arrest as timely and a welcome development.
“We have finally been vindicated that Akala does not deserve a place in a sane society. EFCC must pursue this case to a logical conclusion… and corrupt leaders must not go unpunished.”
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