EFCC to probe sacked governors

Vanguard

29 January 2012

EFCC to probe sacked governors

We’ve petitions against them – EFCC

FOR allegedly mismanaging the finances of their states, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will go after some of the five former governors who were sacked by the Supreme Court on Friday.

The commission, at the weekend, disclosed plans to  invite some of the governors to answer questions regarding  management of state finances during their tenure in office amid speculations that some of them may be on their way out of the country to escape investigations by anti_graft agencies.

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Binabo gets cracking in Bayelsa

Acting governor of Bayelsa State, Nestor Binabo, yesterday, effected minor changes in his one day old administration with the appointment of a university don, Prof Millionaire Abowei as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Abowei, an indigene of Angiama in Southern Ijaw Local Council takes over from Chief Gideon Ekeuwei, a native of Azuzuama also from Southern Ijaw Local Council. He will be sworn in tomorrow at Gloryland Castle, Governor’s Lodge. Binabo, in a statement by the Assistant Director, Information, Government House, Mr. Chris Odi, while thanking Ekeuwei for his service to the government called on him to hand over all government properties in his possession to the most senior government official in the service.  The Acting Governor also approved the appointment of Ebi Avi, a veteran journalist as his Chief Press Secretary and A. Austin as the new Chief of Staff, Government House. The duo will take over from Doifie Ola, erstwhile CPS to former Governor Timipre Sylva and Samuel Ogbuku, former Chief of Staff, Government House.

Sokoto gets acting gov

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However, 2007 and 2011 Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Igbini, faulted the verdict, saying that it would create confusion in the polity.

In a statement made available to Sunday Vanguard in Warri, he said: “I do not agree with the judgment of the Supreme Court on this matter.

The fact remains that prior to the amendment of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution on January 10, 2011, the provision of Section 180(2) simply implies that any governorship election annulled by Court of Appeal and a re-run election conducted, the oath of office first taken is invalid, and unknown to law, despite the fact that policies and actions taken during the said invalid period remains valid. The reason for this is that the policies and actions taken are irreversible.

“However, I want to hasten to state that by this judgment of the Supreme Court, it follows that any governorship election to be held in the five affected states must be deemed to have been held on April 26, 2011 being the date fixed by INEC for fresh governorship elections.”

He continued:, “This judgment of the Supreme Court has now confirmed Timipre Sylva as PDP governorship candidate for the election to be held any time from now because by provision of Section 131 of the Electoral Act, 2010, he is the valid candidate for PDP in the January 2011 PDP Primary.