Change of political parties does not guarantee immunity from prosecution- EFCC

The EFCC, has said recent convictions it secured show it is not partisan as alleged by some Nigerians.

The anti-graft commission was reacting to the jailing of ex-Taraba state governor, Jolly Nyame, in May and that of ex-Plateau state governor, Joshua Dariye, on Tuesday, June 12. Both men were jailed 14 years each for misappropriating funds belonging to their states.

Both men were elected in 1999 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and then re-elected in 2003. Their corruption trials started in 2007 before their conviction 11 years later in 2018.

The due are however currently members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement on Wednesday, June 13, the EFCC said the jailing of both men as well as other cases it is handling shows it not selective in favour of the APC.

The statement signed by the EFCC’s pokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, noted that: “The conviction of two prominent members of the ruling APC, Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, in quick succession by a Federal Capital Territory High Court has put a lie to the often repeated charge by critics and cynics that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is lukewarm in prosecuting chieftains of the ruling party for corruption.

“Messrs Nyame and Dariye, both former two-term governors of Taraba and Plateau state respectively, were convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges.

“Mr Nyame, for criminal misappropriation, diversion of public funds, and breach of public trust; and Mr Dariye, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. In the course of Mr Nyame’s trial, the prosecution called 14 witnesses and presented documentary evidence, which among other things revealed that the N250 million was shared and never utilised for the purpose for which it was approved. A total of N180 million was diverted to the bank account of Salman Global Ventures Limited, which provided no services for the state.

“On his part, Mr Dariye diverted about N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state, to his personal use, including transferring monies to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures (an unregistered company managed by him) and Pinnacle Communications Limited.

“In proving its case against Mr Dariye, EFCC called 10 witnesses, including Peter Clark, a detective constable with the UK Metropolitan Police in London, who investigated Mr Dariye in the UK for money laundering offence.

“Both trials had been ongoing for 11 years and towards the end of the proceedings, the two convicts changed their political camps, moving from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC. Mr Dariye who won election into the Senate on the platform of the PDP decamped to the ruling APC, at a critical phase of his trial, when the prosecution had called all its vital witnesses and conviction appeared imminent. Not surprisingly, this fueled speculation that the gambit was a calculated move to stave off imminent conviction.

“But rather than slow proceedings, his trial accelerated, forcing the defence to close its case, thus setting the stage for the judgment of June 12.

“From these cases, Nigerians can now appreciate the fact that the EFCC is apolitical, blind to the political colours and affiliations of crime suspects. It will be foolhardy for any politically exposed person under prosecution to think that mere change of political affiliation will guarantee immunity from prosecution.”