Daniel, Akala, Doma arrested

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, yesterday, launched sting operations in three different
states which led to the arrest of three immediate past
governors of Ogun; Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Oyo, Adebayo
Alao-Akala and Nasarawa, Alli Akwe Doma.
Sources at the Commission noted that while Daniel was
picked over an alleged N58 billion fraud, Alao-Akala is to face
charges over N25 billion allegedly missing from the state
treasury, while Doma is being investigated for an alleged N18
billion fraud.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi,
who confirmed the arrests to our correspondent in Abuja,
informed that the suspects would be interrogated at the
commission’s headquarters located in Wuse 11 area of
Abuja.
WAZIRI AND HER CATCH: File pictures of EFCC Chairman
Farida Waziri (2nd right) and from left, former governors
Doma, Daniel and Alao-Akala arrested by EFCC operatives
yesterday.
He explained that Alao-Akala had arrived at the Abuja office
while former governor Gbenga Daniel was being awaited.
According to Babafemi: “The suspects were arrested this
morning at various locations by our operatives. While Doma
was brought immediately to our head office here in Abuja,
the other two were taken to our Lagos office for questioning.
“However, we have decided to bring all of them under one
roof for effective interrogation. Alao-Akala has arrived since
4:15 pm while former governor Daniel is on his way as we
speak”.
The Commission’s spokesman further noted that the former
governors would be prosecuted at the end of their
interrogation.
Babafemi said Akala was picked up in his residence in Ibadan,
Oyo state, while Daniel, who got hint of the plan to arrest
him by the EFCC rushed to submit himself at the Lagos office
of the agency where he was whisked to Abuja office of the
commission.
Daniel was said to have arrived the Efunyela Hall in the
premises of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Ikene, venue of the
first Pan-Yoruba Conference at 10.40 am and left five minutes
later after intimating some Yoruba leaders at the conference
of the presence of EFCC operatives at his residence to arrest
him.
The EFCC spokesman further said: “I can confirm to you that
the two of them are presently in our custody. The ex-
governor of Oyo state, Akala was arrested in his home while
Daniel having received information that we are coming for
him ran away from home and rushed to submit himself in
our Lagos office, where he was arrested.
“They will have to face thorough and extensive interrogations
from our interrogators today (Thursday) and tomorrow,
(Friday). About the issue of charging them to court, I would
not want to be pre-emptive, but I can assure you that their
interrogation cannot last less than two days. It is after the
conclusion of the investigation that we will know what to do.
Definitely, after interrogation, the team will know the next line
of action,” he said.
However, inside source within the organization told
Vanguard that “the duo of Daniel and Akala will spend their
weekend in custody. It is likely they will be taken to court
next week.”
It was also gathered that their team of lawyers are already
being contacted to see how their interrogation goes.
Waziri orders arrest of more former govs
A reliable source hinted that more former governors are
likely to face arrest very soon as the EFCC boss, Farida Waziri
was said to have given the final order for their arrest
yesterday.
Waziri is also said to have gone into hiding to avoid coming
under the kind of pressure she faced after the arrest of
former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.
Mrs. Waziri has made it clear that she would investigate
several of the former state executive officers, and bring to
book as many as are found culpable for looting or
mismanaging state resources.
Prior to the expiration of their tenure on May 29 this year,
many of the ex-governors were reported to have gone into
hiding, with some escaping abroad to avoid prosecution for
pillaging their state resources.
According to our EFCC sources, “the Commission is
presently on a manhunt for some of these former
governors, who have left the shores of Nigeria. A good
many of them have cases to answer with the EFCC for the
way they handled state finances. Soon, more arrests would
be made and they would be made to answer for their
actions and inactions.”
Daniel: I will be vindicated
Reacting to his arrest, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said he would
be vindicated after his interrogation. In a statement issued on
his behalf by his spokesman, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, he
said: “Today, agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, visited the Sagamu home of Otunba
Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State. When they
got there Otunba Daniel was at the Pan-Yoruba Summit in
Ikenne. On learning of their presence in Sagamu, Otunba
Daniel left Ikenne to join them after which he was taken away
by the agents ostensibly to continue investigation into the
petitions it had received against the former governor.
“It is important to state that prior to their visit, Otunba Daniel
had not been invited to answer any question. Also nothing
incriminating has been found or brought to his notice by
officials of the EFCC prior to their visit to his house on
Thursday. Indeed, when speculation became rife that he
may be invited for questioning a scheduled trip abroad by
the former governor was put on hold in order for him to be
available to answer the summons of the EFCC. As a law
abiding citizen, Otunba Daniel expects the agency to follow
the due process in the current situation.
“Otunba Daniel remains confident that he would be
vindicated as the petitions written against him and which
may have formed the basis of his invitation by the EFCC are
politically motivated. We believe that at the end of the day the
truth will prevail.
Jubilation in Abeokuta, Ijebu-ode over Daniel’s arrest
Meanwhile it was celebration galore yesterday, in both
Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital and Sagamu and its
environs, when the news of the arrest of former governor of
Ogun state Olugbenga Daniel by operatives of Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filtered into town.
The embattled former governor was seen few hours before
his arrest at the Pan-Yoruba Conference held in Ikenne,
where he briefly spoke with newsmen on the need for the
Yoruba race to put their differences apart in the interest of
unity.
People discussed the matter in hushed tones while the
Master of Ceremony, Femi Okunrounmu publicly expressed
surprise as he announced the presence of Daniel and found
out that he was no more in their midst.

Catch them all

LET'S WAIT AND SEE MY PEOPLE

Hmm

hmn!!

Oga de chop money......

No be Nigeria we dey.They go release them soon and set them free.What do we heard abt Bankole case again?

nawaa 4 African leaders oooo

Animal farm

So sad..