Documents obtained by
PREMIUM TIMES have shown
how the chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Ibrahim
Lamorde, wrote to the
Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Babachir
Lawal, seeking the
disqualification of the
gubernatorial candidate of
the All Progressives Congress,
Abubakar Audu, from
contesting the forthcoming
governorship election in the
state.
Mr. Audu won the primary
election of the APC on August
30 amidst calls by some
Nigerians that fielding him as
candidate was a negation of
the ruling party’s anti-graft
war.
In a letter dated September
21, 2015, with reference
number EFCC/EC/SGF/03/59,
and titled “F.R.N Vs Abubakar
Audu & 1 other Charge No:
FCT/CR/115/ 2013”, the EFCC
chairman wrote to the
secretary to the government
of the federation reminding
him that Mr. Audu was
standing trial for corruption.
“The candidate was
arraigned by the Commission
for abuse of office, theft of
public funds and money
laundering during his tenure
as Executive Governor of Kogi
State between 1999 and 2003
at both Kogi High Court,
Lokoja in 2006 and the Federal
Capital Territory High Court,
Apo Abuja in 2013,” Mr.
Lamorde wrote.
“The Lokoja case was stalled
for six years on the account of
frivolous interlocutory
applications by the accused
person, which has taken us
twice to the Supreme Court
and eventually decided in the
commission’s favour on
23rd November 2012.
“The trial effectively
continued in 2013 with the
filing of fresh charges in
Abuja. Eight prosecution
witnesses have so far given
evidence and 166 exhibits
tendered at the proceedings,
while the case adjourned till
14th October 2015 for
continuation of trial.
“We are genuinely concerned that the
trial will be suspended for another four
years if Prince Audu emerges as Kogi
State Governor, similar to the situation of
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.
“While not being unmindful of the
constitutional presumption of innocence
of all accused persons until proven guilty,
we are nevertheless greatly concerned
that swearing in of another accused
person as Executive Governor in Nigeria
may not be in consonance with the
current anti-corruption policy of the new
administration.”
In conclusion, Mr. Lamorde cautioned
that allowing Mr. Audu to contest on the
ruling party’s ticket might undermine
the administration’s fight against
corruption, especially in the eyes of the
world.
“This may negatively impact our
perception by the international
community and give rise to scepticism
and even cynicism,” the EFCC boss
wrote.
Mr. Lamorde’s letter appeared a re-
enactment of former EFCC chairman,
Nuhu Ribadu’s advisory letter to
political parties in 2007, seeking the
disqualification of some political office
seekers for their involvement in
corruption.
But upon receipt of Mr. Lamorde’s
advisory letter, the SGF, Babachir Lawan,
immediately wrote to the national
secretariat of the APC the following day,
urging it to take “necessary action”.
In a letter dated September 22, 2015,
referenced SGF.30/S.11/T, the SGF said
“I wish to forward the attached
document from the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on
the above subject matter for your
information and action”.
OBASANJO CAUTIONED AUDU ON
ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES
In a similar charge on corruption against
the Kogi APC governorship candidate,
former President Olusegun Obasanjo
wrote to Mr. Audu on October 5, 2001,
cautioning him on some acquisitions of
prime landed properties abroad while in
office as governor.
Mr. Obasanjo confirmed to PREMIUM
TIMES on Friday that he actually wrote
the letter to Mr. Audu, and that the copy
of the letter obtained by this newspaper
was genuine.
PREMIUM TIMES reliably gathered that the
former president also wrote to the
Independent Corrupt Practices and
Related Offences Commission, and the
then National Security Adviser, NSA, Aliyu
Gusau, directing them to investigate Mr.
Audu in relation to foreign assets
acquisition as a sitting governor.
Mr. Obasanjo based his advice to the ICPC
and the NSA on a notification he got from
the British Home Office.
While responding to PREMIUM TIMES’
question on his various corruption cases,
Mr. Audu said in a recent interview that
the matter was before the court, and
that no case had so far been established
against him.
“This is a matter that is already before
the court, and it will therefore be a
contempt of court for me to disclose
what happened in the court.
“But as far as I am concerned, they have
not established any prima facie case
against me in the past 12 years,” Mr.
Audu said.
When contacted, the National Publicity
Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, said
he was not aware of the issue as the
letter was not addressed to him.
He explained that he was not aware that
the issue was discussed at any meeting
of the National Working Committee.
The National Secretary of the APC, Mai
Mala-Buni, neither answered several
telephone calls made to him nor
responded to a text message seeking to
know the action his party took regarding
the letter from the EFCC cautioning
against fielding Mr. Audu as governorship
candidate. Cc lalasticlala, obionoscopy.

source:http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/192409-how-apc-ignored-efccs-advice-not-to-field-audu-as-kogi-guber-candidate.html

He can't be disqualified, wonder when larmorde turned supreme court cos i didn't get the memo.

One chance party .. Ha ha

Well if they nominated Amaechi who has 57billion on his neck, why won't they ignore someone with just 11 billion.

EFCC, did you also write to SGF on the corrupt practice's of Amaechi ?

APc will not make it in Kogi with Audu. Everyone is calling for Alh. Yahaya Bello(FAIRPLUS). WE DON'T WANT THIEVES AGAIN!! DO SOMETHING AND GIVE US FAIRPLUS.
CC lalasticlala, obionoscopy and mynd44 please do the needful.