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2011: EFCC submits corrupt aspirants’ names to PDP
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and his Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counterpart, Mrs. Farida Waziri Shock awaits many politicians hoping to contest the 2011 general elections on the Peoples Democratic Party platform as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has submitted the names of members it found to be corrupt to the leadership of the party. THE PUNCH’s findings over the weekend showed that 55 politicians, including six serving governors, are on the list. Three of these governors are from the South, while the other three are from the North Two of the governors in the South are seeking re-election while only one of the three governors in the North wants to return to the Government House. However, the affected governors, who are not seeking re-election, plan to contest other elective posts in the forth-coming elections in 2011. A source in the PDP, who made this known to our correspondents, reiterated the party’s decision to stop its members suspected to be corrupt from contesting the general elections on its platform. He said, “There is no way we will allow our members with corruption cases hanging on their necks to stand for elections in 2011. Doing so will not be good for our image. Since the Federal Government controlled by the PDP is serious about stemming corruption in the country, it will be wrong for us to allow people with questionable character to stand for elections next year.” Asked to confirm the names of the serving governors and the other politicians, the source, a senior official of the PDP, replied, “There is no way I can tell you that. You have to wait until the party takes a final decision on it. You know it is a sensitive matter. We don’t want them to begin to pile pressures on our party and the EFCC.” The source, who insisted on anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, did not say exactly when the list was submitted. “We got the list shortly before our chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, travelled to the United States recently.” When contacted, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development. He said, “Of course, the list is part of our advisory list on those who are standing trial for corruption. “What we did was to remind stakeholders about the corrupt cases against politically- exposed persons. “These are the people who are still standing trial for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices just as their cases are still ongoing in various courts.” Nwodo is in the United States following medical advice from his doctors asking him to observe some rest. The PDP National Working Committee had at a meeting with the EFCC in Abuja on September 27, 2010 requested for a list of corrupt members of the party seeking elective positions. A member of the NWC, who was at the meeting told one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity on Sunday, that the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, complained that many of the people currently being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency were aspiring for elective positions. Waziri was said to have noted at the September 27 meeting that majority of the affected political aspirants were hiding under the PDP umbrella. According to the source, the anti-graft agency chief expressed disappointment that such people were also using their money to stall the cases against them in courts. The source said, “The commission has submitted the list to our chairman. This is because, the chairman of the EFCC, at our last meeting, complained that many members of our party who are standing trial are also warming up for election. “The PDP must set the standard by ensuring that we do not field such persons again. Besides, these politicians are rich and are hiring senior lawyers to frustrate the commission at the courts.” The source said when Waziri was asked why the commission could not halt these politicians, she allegedly said that if it (EFCC) had instituted fresh cases against them, it would be tagged “political victimisation.” Investigations by our correspondents on Sunday, further revealed that the EFCC chairman had asked the PDP leadership to use its “in-house mechanism” to stop some of the politicians. However, it was learnt that the National Legal Adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, told Waziri that it would be difficult for the NWC to stop such politicians on the “mere suspicion that they are corrupt.” Oke, it was learnt, also reminded the NWC that even those that were being prosecuted were free to contest elections since they were yet to be convicted. Oke reportedly reminded the committee members that the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, had been elected while in prison. Apart from Orji, he also noted that Sen. Iyiola Omisore, had been elected into the Senate while in Agodi Prison, Ibadan, as he was being tried for the murder of a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige. Omisore was later discharged and acquitted. However, the members of the NWC are said to be waiting for Nwodo’s return from his trip before a decision would be taken on the list. But the Special Adviser to Nwodo on Media, Mr. Ike Abonyi, said on Sunday that he was not aware of the list.