EFCC Declares Goje Wanted Over N52.9b

Daniel, Others For Arraignment Next WeekTHE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday declared the former governor of Gombe State and the current Senator representing Gombe Central, Muhammed Danjuma Goje, wanted over an alleged N52.9 billion scam.The former governor was declared wanted yesterday after he flouted an invitation from the EFCC, which lapsed noon yesterday.As at 1pm Friday when The Guardian visited the headquarters of the anti graft Commission in Abuja, Goje was yet to turn himself in forinterrogation;a situation which compelled the EFCC to declare him wanted.The Guardian's investigations also revealed that of the stated amount, N37.9 billion was a loan facility that the former governor obtained from 27 different local banks in 27 different transactions.The remaining N15 billion was allegedly embezzled by him under the guise of security vote. The loan facilities obtained from the banks, according to the EFCC, will put Gombe state in perpetual indebtedness up till 2015 according to a top source at the Commission.A statement from EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, explained that the decision to declare Goje wanted was made after an endless search for him and his failure to submit himself for interrogationover the alleged fraud even when he was in receipt of a letter of invitation that gave him up to noon yesterday to come out of his hiding.The commission statement read:'Patriotic Nigerians who may have useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted person are urged to kindly send same to any of the EFCC's offices across the country or the nearest police station.'It further said that while it will continue its search for the accused person, it will always work within the ambit of the law in the discharge of its responsibility and expects all citizens, especially those being investigated to respect and obey the laws of the land.Goje is being accused for the 'mismanagement and diversion of over N52 billionstate funds.'This EFCC action puts Goje on the list of ex governors being prosecuted on alleged corruption.Former governors of Ogun, Oyo and Nasarawa states, Gbenga Daniel, Adebayo Alao-Akala and Aliu Akwe-Doma respectively, were on Thursday arrested by the anti-graft agency and are currently undergoing interrogation.Though Babafemi declined to be specific, the arrested former governors are expected to be charged to court in the coming week.
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