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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a nationwide crackdown on former governors and ministers under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The arrests are part of investigations into the N23billion allegedly doled out by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
Five leaders of the opposition party have been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the last one week.
Last night, news broke that Sen. Grace Bent from Adamawa and former Minister of Power, Mohammed Wakil from Borno were in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
Earlier in the week, former governors of Kogi and Benue state, Idris Wada, and Suswan respectively were arrested. Former Acting Governor of Taraba state, Sani Abubakar Danladi was also arrested last week and quizzed on Monday.
PDP chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode however thinks its a witch hunt and a plot to weaken the party ahead of its National Convention in December and as well as calculations into 2019 elections.
He tweeted: “EFCC has detained ex-Gov’s Wada of Kogi, Danladi of Taraba, Suswan of Benue, Sen. Grace Bent of Adamawa and former Min. Adamu Wakil of Borno all in the last 2 days. They are all PDP leaders.
“ALL this because the PDP Convention is fast approaching and because of 2019.
“Shame!”
Reports say the EFCC may arrest and interrogate over 20 former ministers and governors who are all members of the PDP.
The cases against the PDP leaders:
Danladi of Taraba
He was accused of collectimg part of the N23billion allegedly doled out by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
He reportedly admitted collecting and sharing N450 of the money to stakeholders in the state to execute the elections.
Idris Wada of Kogi
The EFCC said it traced N500m to the former governor. The money was said to be part of the N23bn Diezani fund.
Suswam of Benue
The former Benue governor was arrested to explain his role in the sharing of N450 million of the Diezani fund among PDP stakeholders in Benue state.
Wakil of Borno
He was said to have received N450m from the Diezani cash.
Judging by the positions of influence they occupied ahead of the 2015 elections, others who may be picked up soon include former Minister of Science and Technology, Alhaji Abdu Bulama (Yobe); former Enugu governor, Sullivan Chime; former Kebbi governnor, Saidu Dakin Garin; former Kano governor, Ibrahim Shekarau; former Borno governor and PDP chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff; former Adamawa governor, James Ngilari; and a former Zamfara governor, Mamuda Shinkafi.