EFCC Goes After Ex-governor Of Borno State

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) goes after Ali Modu Sheriff, an ex-governor of Borno State, as he is expected to appear before it today, April 23.

According to Premium Times report, Sheriff has been summoned by the anti-graft agency and is expected to report at the Abuja head office of the Commission to answer to questions bordering on accusations of “misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and abuse of office while he was governor”.

Multiple sources at the EFCC told reporters that should Sheriff fail to show up as ordered, he would be announced wanted and then jailed.

It was learnt that detectives were already on his track and watching his movement to stop him from escaping.

While the specific allegations against the ex-governor is uncertain at this time, the investigation is connected with claims that parts of the N300billion his government got from the Federation Account between 2003 and 2011 may not have been carefully spent.

The inquiry began in 2012 and had been continuing ever since, the sources said.

Sheriff ruled Borno State on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Before then, he was senator between 1999 and 2003 on the ticket of the same party.

It stays unknown why ex-governor is being summoned by the crimes commission at the tail end of an government formed by his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party, which he joined only last year.

The spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, has yet to confirm the information.

The former governor too could not be reached.

Sheriff, who has since fallen out with his successor, Kashim Shetttima, left the All Progressives Congress, which he helped to create in 2013.

Before defection from the APC, ex-governor clashed repeatedly with some leaders of the opposition party, comprising a former governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu, who he blamed for harbouring dictatorial tendencies.

After meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan last year Sheriff told reporters that his defection to the PDP was in Nigeria’s interest.

Seemingly because of his romance with the ruling party, the PDP Federal Government snubbed calls for his arrest and prosecution over his supposed link with Boko Haram.