EFCC Vs Bayelsa On Alam’s Loot: Who Is Pressing The Pause Button?

What kind of a people are we? Is it true the Bayelsa State Government disowned a lawyer that filed a suit challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for not remitting the various sums of money recovered from former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha? Also, did the EFCC actually describe the Bayelsa state government’s or rather the lawyer’s purported suit as “provocative and a cheap blackmail” against the anti-graft agency?

The story was that one George Uboh, cited as the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security System, approached the Federal High Court Abuja and asked it to compel the EFCC to remit the N1.4 billion and $1.3 million to the treasury of the Bayelsa state government being the money recovered from Alamieyeseigha after his conviction in 2005. Beyond asking for the repatriation of the sums to the state, the lawyer also prayed the court to compel EFCC to pay interest at the rate of 21 percent on the sums to the government without further delay.

Uboh averred that Lamorde had violated his oath of office by presiding over the affairs of the commission after investigating and prosecuting the former governor and using the proceeds for trading an act the suit claimed was in itself outright corruption and an economic crime that negates sections 6 and 7 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

There is something that is at best blurred and at worst obscured here. If it is true that EFCC still has the forfeited fund, is Bayelsa state saying they are not interested in the recovered funds? Is it not strange that the Bayelsa State Government is saying they are not asking for the money and that infact they are through with EFCC?

Without mincing words, the Bayelsa state government’s denial of involvement in this case against the EFCC could best be said to be callous and outrightly irresponsible. One would have thought they will encourage the lawyer or get one of their own to pursue the case.

More so when this is a state that the governor, Seriake Dickson last week publicly forewarned the people to brace for harsh economic realities in the face of decline of inflow of money from the Federation Account. This is a state where hard times seem real for majority of its citizens as a statement from its Government House last week has already enjoined the people to begin to plan their spending ahead of the implementation of the imminent salary slash due to the alleged dwindling of the federal allocation to the state. This is a state that depends on several neighbouring states including Delta and Imo for supply of foodstuffs. And this is a state also that its House of Assembly is almost through on its debate on a new consumption tax law that would see the people pay five percent consumption tax on almost all the goods and services to beef up government revenues. How do you reconcile all these?

If substantiated that the suit filed by George Uboh has merit, is it not to the public interest of the people of Bayelsa state?

Genuinely concerned citizens of the state should actually rise up in full support of this suit. They should not just stop at ensuring that the said money be remitted to the state’s purse but also ensure that the present government puts it to judicious use for the benefit of the entire populace as well as guide against further embezzlement by its public officers.

In the first instance, was the onus not resting on the state to have instituted this suit and pressing its case? Is shying away from this not evidential lack of moral will and shirking away from responsibilities on the part of the state government?

There is no question whether Alamieyeseigha is pardoned or not. He was granted state pardoned and he remains pardoned whether anybody likes or not. But this is not even the issue. How does returning the money already recovered and warehoused by the EFCC in any way going to affect the commission’s ongoing investigation of Bayelsa state government officials as claimed by the EFCC? Is the EFCC saying it is reopening Alamieyeseigha’s case that was thoroughly investigated as claimed before the former governor was prosecutor and subsequently convicted?

Who does the EFCC think it can cower with its empty threats?  It was an outright irresponsibility for the anti-graft agency to say in its response to the reported suits that “Let it be known that the sensational allegations, wild accusations and imputations contained in the scandalous reports strike at the very heart of EFCC’s values and rules of engagement and will not be allowed to go unanswered.  Those pushing this deliberate misinformation for whatever ends should therefore prepare to substantiate them.”

The shabby handling of this scandalous action of the commission in trading with the recovered moneys even in the cases such as the one involving the former Delta State governor, James Ibori, the former Enugu state governor, Chimaroke Nnamani amongst others may on the long work against the credibility, sincerity, and integrity of the EFCC leadership. The EFCC seems to be missing the aim of their existence which is to help us (Nigerians- government, individuals) recover monies stolen from us. The question is: Do you recover these monies and take them to your house or you return them to the owners- federal/state governments or individuals?

Those who want to play politics with this are completely missing the point. Alamieyeseigha has been granted state pardon and that stands until he dies except he gets himself into a new trouble but as for the old one, it is a closed case. However the case that remains now is the where-about of the recovered money and the cumulative interests accruing and there is no amount of threat that can make the EFCC intimidate the ordinary Bayelsa man who would soon be joined by the Delta and Enugu men amongst others to ask for their moneys and accrued interests from the tradings/investments. If they don’t ask for it today because maybe Jonathan is the President, they will still ask for it tomorrow and this would likely happen when the Pharaoh that knew not Joseph takes over the Presidency. God bless Nigeria!