Date Published: 03/24/10

EFCC files six-count charge against Bayelsa officials...Arrests 5 LG bosses in Kogi

EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed a six-count charge against Bayelsa State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Charles Osuala; the state‘s Accountant General, Francis Okokuro, the state‘s Director of Treasury, Abot Clinton; and the Director of Finance, Anthony Howells for allegedly stealing N2bn belonging to the state.

 The Bayelsa officials were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja and under the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act,) 2004.

The commission has also given Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the fiat to prosecute the four suspects. Three of them are presently in the custody of the EFCC while Osuala is said to be at large. The charge was filed by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, a Chief Legal Officer with the EFCC.

The commission‘s spokesperson Femi Babafemi, said the EFCC had obtained a court order to detain the suspects for two weeks.

The commission said it was in possession of relevant court documents to substantiate the case against the suspects.

He also said the EFCC had not received the order of a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State ordering the agency to release the three men.

Meanwhile, EFCC operatives on Tuesday arrested three commissioners and five serving local government chairmen in Kogi State, for allegedly diverting about N3bn from the state coffers.

The commissioners are Samuel Ojo(Finance); C.J.Faniyi(Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); and Albert Soje (Agriculture).

The local government chairmen are those of Yagba East, Ogorimagogo, Okene, Yagba West and Adavi.

Also arrested was the immediate past chairman of Adavi Local Government, Enesi Jimoh.

Spokesperson for the commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the arrest, said those arrested were being undergoing interrogation.

He also said they were being detained at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.