Following various allegations against some former Nigerian governors, the federal government has given reason why it is yet to prosecute these individuals.
Punch reports that lack of sufficient funds have stalled the prosecution of these former governors.
Sources within the office of the attorney general of the federation there are no funds available to pursue the pending cases.
It was also gathered that due to the unavailability of proper funding, the attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami has his attention to more sensitive cases.
These sensitive cases the source said include the prosecution of some allegedly corrupt judges
“You will recall that the office of the AGF had, in July, written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, demanding the files of some former governors with a view to commencing action on deserving ones,” one of the sources said.
“But the plan has not been implemented largely because of lack of funds.
“Also, the cases of the arrested judges came up, and due to the sensitivity of the case, the little available resources have to be expended on them,” the source said.
It was also gathered that these cases involving former governors will need private lawyers put together by the National Prosecution Coordinating Committee to help in its prosecution.
Meanwhile, the source also said that some other high profile cases were affected by the lack of fund.
Some of these former governors include those who served either one or two terms between 1999 and 2015.
Some of them have also served as senators since leaving their various offices as governor.
On the list of the AGF include the Senate President Bukola Saraki – a former governor of Kwara state; Godswill Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Ali Modu Sheriff, a former Governor of Borno State).
Others on the list are: Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
Also, names like Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); Achike Udenwa (Imo); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Boni Haruna (Adamawa); George Akume (Benue); Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) and Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo) were found on the list.
While Usman Dakingari (Kebbi); Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi); Peter Odili (Rivers); and Lucky Igbindedion (Edo) are also expected to be prosecuted.
Source: Punch
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