ICPC hires independent prosecutors to try ex-govs - Trial commences soon

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 02.01.2008

THE prosecution axe of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will soon fall on some former state governors who were allegedly involved in financial misappropriation as the commission has hired independent prosecutors to handle their cases.

The commission, which made this known through its consultant, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said that the anti- graft commission would attain a desirable mileage in the task of making the alleged corrupt state governors face the law in the New Year.

He disclosed that all governors who had ruled between 1999 till date and had cases to answer would be put on trial. He said already, the appointed independent prosecutors had begun studying the files of the state governors accused of corrupt enrichment by petitioners.

Olamiti said the ICPC had already obtained the permission of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Idris Kutigi, to start the probe of the governors in Nigeria after retrieving the files of the ex-governors from his office.

He also stated that the appointment of independent counsel to the probe the former state governors was ICPC’s way of observing due process in its constitutional task of fighting corruption in Nigeria.

He said the commission would always carry Nigerians along in all its undertakings such that it would earn the confidence of the average Nigerian.

Speaking further on the development, the consultant said that state governors both past and present who had been accused of corrupt practices would know their fate in the New Year.

“The commission has set machinery in motion for the probe and subsequent trial of all state governors who had ruled between 1999 till date in the New Year.

“The independent counsel are to advise the ICPC on which of the governors, both past and serving, are to be tried based on available evidence dug up against each of them.

“The commission is of the view, however, that some of the petitions submitted against the governors were spurious in nature and hence, required expert treatments.”