Former South-South Governor Faces Petitions Over Alleged Diversion Of N4.5 Billion Security Votes

Discover how a former South-South governor is under investigation by the EFCC and ICPC for allegedly diverting N4.5 billion security votes intended for security agencies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have received petitions against a former governor of a South-South state for allegedly misappropriating N4.5 billion in security votes.

The petitions, submitted by the Network Against Corruption and Human Trafficking Initiative (NACAT), were officially acknowledged by both anti-graft agencies. These documents include detailed records of transactions, such as bank account numbers and payment trails, reportedly made by the former governor to various security agencies operating in the state. However, the petition alleges that the funds never reached the intended recipients, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and Department of State Services (DSS).

Allegations Backed by Evidence

At a press briefing held in Abuja, Fejiro Oghenedoro, NACAT’s Executive Director of Investigations, disclosed that over N4.5 billion was withdrawn within six months, purportedly for security operations. He further alleged discrepancies in the funds allocated and the amounts received by the security agencies.

Nigerian Army: Allocated ₦500 million but did not receive the full amount.
Nigerian Navy: Allocated ₦480 million, with similar irregularities in disbursement.
Civil Defence: Assigned ₦490 million for operational expenses.
Other Security Units: Allocated ₦360 million and ₦650 million, respectively, for specific operations.

Oghenedoro claimed that the funds were siphoned off under the guise of security votes, with none of the agencies receiving the full allocations.

NACAT Demands Justice

“As Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption group, it is our duty to expose such acts of corruption and ensure accountability. We cannot allow the blatant embezzlement of public funds to go unchecked,” Oghenedoro stated.

He emphasized that justice must prevail and called on the EFCC and ICPC to act swiftly in their investigations to hold the former governor accountable for these alleged offenses.

Public Interest and Call for Action

NACAT urged the anti-corruption agencies to bring transparency to the case and ensure that justice is served. The group reaffirmed its commitment to uncovering corruption and advocating for good governance.