The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, has detained former
Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, over
N3.6 billion realised from sale of the state’s
16 of the 26 per cent stake in North-South
Power Ltd and N2 billion ecological fund got
from the Presidency in 2015.
The anti-graft agency believes that the cash
from the two sources was laundered by the
former governor and used for prosecution of
the 2015 governorship election to enthrone
one of its own protégés.
Vanguard sources at the EFCC confirmed
that the ‘Chief Servant’, as he is fondly
addressed, was detained since Tuesday at
the headquarters of the EFCC around 10 a.m
as he honoured an invitation by the anti-
graft agency.
One of the top sources said Aliyu had been
answering series of questions from a crack
team of detectives since his arrival at the
EFCC compound and was not about to be
released as at press time.
The former governor is being quizzed on
issues relating to abuse of office and money
laundering and is likely to be arraigned if the
outcome of the investigation indicts him.
Specifically, Aliyu is alleged to have diverted
the N2 billion Ecological Funds for political
purposes.
He is also alleged to have fraudulently sold
the state’s stake in North South Power, the
holding company for Kainji Dam.
Edited from Vanguard
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