EFCC Returns To Odili’s Doorstep After Many Years Over Alleged N100bn Fraud

By PHC Telegraph

 

Former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili has a lot of explanations to offer in respect of  a financial accusation levied against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Odili who had obtained a perpetual injunction at the twilight of his eight-year administration is to be investigated in connection with an alleged N100b fraud.

The former Rivers Governor who reportedly owns a university in retirement first came under the searchlight of the anti-graft body during the Obasanjo era.

Nuhu Ribadu, chairman of the EFCC had done everything in the books, including arresting Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly who was seen at the time as the political godson’ of the Ndoni-born medical doctor, in order to obtain critical evidence that would enable the commission nail Odili.

In March, 2008, Odili got a federal high court to grant a perpetual injunction stopping the EFCC, its chairman and other operatives from tampering with the books of the Rivers state Government and also investigating him.

After several long years, the EFCC says it is reopening the investigation against the former civilian governor.

Coincidentally, the renewed investigation of Odili’s alleged crime is coming at a time that Nuhu Ribadu is the National Security Adviser.

But Odili is not the only former Governor who is being investigated. There are 12 others. They include two former Ekiti State governors, Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose; former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle; and two former Enugu State governors, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime.

Others are former Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Adamu; former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, 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.

Matawalle, who is currently serving as the Minister of Defence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, is being probed for alleged N70bn money laundering.

Fayemi, who served as Minister of Solid Minerals Development in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet from November 11, 2015 to May 30, 2018, before resigning to contest the governorship election for his second term, is being investigated for an alleged N4bn fraud.

Fayose, a two-term governor of Ekiti State, is being probed by the anti-graft agency for an alleged N6.9bn fraud while Nnamani is being probed for an alleged N5.3bn fraud. Chime is under the searchlight over an alleged N450m campaign fraud.

The money in question is purported to be part of the N23bn allegedly shared by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Adamu is being probed for alleged N15bn fraud, and Kwakwanso for alleged non – remittance of N10bn pension fund.

Orji is being investigated over alleged N551bn money laundering; Goje is being probed by the commission for an alleged N5bn fraud; Wammako for allegedly diverting N15bn; Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum under Buhari for allegedly laundering N19.2bn; and Lamido for allegedly committing an alleged N1.35bn fraud.

Unlike the rest who are being investigated, Odili’s matter is slightly different.  He has a perpetual injunction, and lawyers spoken to by this publication say there is no evidence that it has been vacated.

Who can be behind the plan by the EFCC to reopen his case? Why are they suddenly pursuing him after several years of political retirement?

No one is sure, but a past that he may not wish to remember is back in 2024 to hunt him.