Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday alleged that there seemed to be a grand design by the Federal Government to truncate the trial of 31 former governors earlier penciled down for prosecution by EFCC over corruption.

Clark who spoke in Abuja yesterday fingered the incumbent Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Andoakaa (SAN) and the present Chairman of EFCC, Chief Mrs Farida Waziri as architects of the seeming plan.

He said he was forced to raise alarm yesterday following an alleged statement credited to the EFCC boss to the effect that she did not inherit any case-files against 31 governors from her predecessor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu nor was there prima facie case established against them.

He said the alleged prejudicial statement which Waziri was already denying was perhaps made to test the waters.

However, the EFCC in clarifying its position on the probe of corrupt ex-governors said the chairman was quoted out of context while affirming that the investigations are on course.

Clark during yesterday’s conference, said that it would not be surprising if about nine of the ex-governors already standing trial are left off the hook on the ground that there was no prima facie case established against them.

His words: “I called this press conference to protest against the alleged statement by the Chairman of EFCC, Mrs Waziri at the National Assembly where she stated that there was no sufficient evidence against the 31 governors earlier presented by Ribadu before the National Assembly as corrupt.

“Ribadu gleefully boasted that all the 31 former governors would face prosecution immediately they forfeited their constitutional immunity at the end of their tenure.

“You will recall that one of these governors has been tried and convicted.

“To Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s credit, nine of the 31 former governors were taken to court before his removal and there was enough indication that he would have taken more to court but for the inglorious antics of the Federation Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Andoakaa who put obstacle on Mallam Ribadu’s way through his fraudulent and warped interpretation of simple concept of rule of law.

“Indeed, we watched with dismay and dissatisfaction the unwarranted and misguided conflict between the AGF and the former Chairman of EFCC, the arrogant and self-opinionated AGF’s resolve not to cooperate with the EFCC in its statutory mandate to eradicate financial crimes.

“It became so glaring when the AGF bungled the effort of the London Metropolitan Police to make the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori pay for his sins with his clandestine letter which has become common knowledge."

“The mendacity of how the AHGF loves the concerted fight against corruption was also displayed by his veiled castigation and targeted intimidation of Justice Shuaib of Kaduna Federal high court in which the AGF shamelessly and publicly said that it was unfair and unjust for James Ibori to be kept in prison custody for 64 days since the former governor did not commit capital offence."

“It is therefore not so surprising that when Malam Nuhu Ribadu was edged out and replaced with Mrs Farida Waziri with the active support of the AGF that Mrs Waziri would end up with the declaration that she had recently made.

“Nigerians will therefore like to know whether the bulky report gleefully submitted to the National Assembly by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu that was applauded by members of the senate and the generality of Nigerians was false and fabricated.

“Nigerians are also anxiously waiting to hear whether the interim report prepared by the same Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and personally signed by him to former President Olusegun Obasanjo against the former Governor of River State, Dr Peter Odili on the eve of the presidential primary accusing the former governor of wanton looting of Rivers state treasury to the tune of N100billion naira and of which a huge sum of N25billion was allegedly spent on the acquisition of Arik Airline is not also in the file of the former governor with Farida Waziri of EFCC.

“It appears EFCC, under Waziri, has a plan.

"They are preparing a ground for counsel to the ex-governors already facing trial to abort their trial by making a no-case submission before the court on the ground that there is dearth of evidence.

“If we keep quiet and they have their ways, it would be catastrophic for this country and that will amount to making Nigeria contest the Bangladesh position on Transparency International’s corruption ranking,” he added.

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