ICPC probes 4 ex-governors

Indications emerged yesterday that the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Nta Ekpo, may have ordered a thorough investigation into financial transactions of four former governors.

The former governors are Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Sullivan Chime, Enugu; Ibrahim Shema, Katsina; and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano. ‎The investigation which has reached an advanced stage, following alleged petitions.

Daily Sun learnt that a crack team of investigators and interrogators have been deployed in the affected states to look into the financial records. They are expected to quiz alleged accomplices who might have aided the governors in siphoning funds.

Initial attempts to get a reaction from Head of Media of ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, did not yield result. He, however ,responded to a text message sent to him by our correspondent.

But in his one line text, Olamiti replied, “no comments.” ‎Efforts to get additional information from credible sources at the commission proved abortive. Some of the senior staff declined comments. Mr. Ekpo could not be reached on phone either for comments.

Just last week, the EFCC com­menced investigation of projects Amaechi executed while in office.

The commission’s probe was based on a July 29 peti­tion from a Port Harcourt-based The Integrity Group.

Penultimate week, Governor Masari inaugurated four committees to investigate activities of some departments and agencies in the state during Shema administration.

Kwankwaso, however, came under fire from pensioners in the state who demanded his probe over about N2 billion trust money.

Last month, several petitions by indigenes of Enugu State were forwarded to the EFCC, demanding investigation about the financial operations of the Chime administration.