N101 Billion Fraud: Daniel, Akala, Doma appear in Court Monday as Gov. Goje, faces EFCC
Former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje Sunday returned home from the United Kingdom (UK), and set to face the Economic and Financial Crime commission (EFCC) Monday.
The EFCC refused Alao-Akala, Daniel and Doma's request for trial in Abuja to prevent them from challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Some former governors arraigned in Abuja in the past challenged the court's jurisdiction and won.
The EFCC may also have obtained the list of foreign accounts of the former governors and those used to launder money abroad.
The EFCC is expected to split the trial of the ex-governors. While they will face trial for stealing at the State High Court, they will be charged separately with money laundering at the Federal High Court.
The Federal High Court cannot entertain some issues bordering on stealing depending on the law under which the governors are charged.
The Commission had declared Goje wanted Thursday over alleged misappropriation of N54 Billion.
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This is coming on the heels of preparation by the Commission to enlist the former Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Tunji Egbetokun, as a star witness in the trial of the former state Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who is to appear in court Monday alongside Adebayo Alao Akala, and Aliyu Doma
Daniel is currently being detained by the anti-graft agency on allegation of mismanaging about N58bn, belonging to Ogun State while he was in office as the state governor between 2003 and 2011.
Goje, who vowed to defend the allegations of corruption levelled against him, said there is no justification for EFCC to declare him wanted.
In a statement by his aide, Mallam Yahaya Mohammed, Goje said he would appear before the EFCC today.
The statement reads: “There was no need by the EFCC to have declared me wanted. I was out of the country when I learnt that the EFCC had declared me wanted; there was no justification for its action. As former governor who served this nation for eight years and currently a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am ever ready to defend my action at all time.
“'The allegation of corruption against me cannot stand. All financial resources entrusted in my care as governor of Gombe State were judiciously used. The records are there for everybody to access.
“It is illogical for any body to have accused me of diverting N52 billion when you look at all the outstanding projects I executed in eight years.
“This is the price you pay for leadership in a country like our nation where all public officials are seen as corrupt people. I have no regret serving this nation.
“I will appear before the EFCC on Monday. I am ready to answer all questions about the purported corrupt practices.”