Trial may begin in Abeokuta, Ibadan todayIT was an endless waiting game yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State and Abeokuta, Ogun State, for journalists and supporters of the detained immediate past governors of the two states.Against the declaration by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that former governors Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo) and Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) would be arraigned before state high courts yesterday, journalists in Ibadan and Abeokuta thronged the courts early in the morning.For several hours, there was no word from either the courts or the EFCC on the fate of the embattled former state chief executives, who were not brought to their states at all.As tension mounted at the court premises, the rumour mill came alive with various stories on why Alao-Akala and Daniel were not brought to court by the EFCC.But their Gombe State counterpart, Danjuma Goje, yesterday surrendered himself to the EFCC, which had declared him wanted.Goje, who now represents Gombe Central in the Senate, reported at the EFCC office at 5.30 a.m. and was immediately detained for interrogation.In Ibadan, it was alleged that Alao-Akala could not be arraigned at the state High Court because of the inability of the EFCC to perfect the necessary papers on the case.All that ended later in the day when the commission's spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said Alao-Akala and Daniel had been moved to Lagos for their planned trial at their state high courts.Babafemi explained that the duo could not be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday because the judges were in a conference in Sokoto State.He also confirmed to The Guardian that Goje had reported to the commission over his alleged embezzlement of N52 billion while in office as governor.The former governor of Nasarawa, Aliyu Akwe-Doma, will however be tried in Abuja because part of the N18 billion for which he is being charged to court, was laundered through Abuja.Alao-Akala was arrested last Thursday alongside Daniel and Akwe-Doma by EFCC operatives for allegedly misappropriating about N102 billion state funds.Specifically, Alao-Akala was alleged to have mismanaged N25 billion while in office.The charges against Alao-Akala and others, which centre on money laundering, were to be filed at the Federal High Courts while they will face trial for the alleged offences at the state High Courts.However, anxious journalists and supporters of the embattled former governor who had thronged the State High Court to witness the arraignment were disappointed as neither the accused nor the prosecutor was sighted at the court.At 3.00 p.m. yesterday, journalists were still waiting to see whether or not Alao-Akala would be brought to court.The Guardian learnt that the commission had filed some papers although it was not clear whether the charges against Alao-Akala have been perfected.The situation was the same in Abeokuta, where Daniel, accused of the diversion of over N58 billion public funds, could not hold.This was linked to the alleged absence of the judge in court to handle his arraignment. Daniel was to be arraigned at the Federal High Court, Oke-Mosan and the State High Court, Isabo, Ogun State, based on the petitions written against him.As early as 7.00 a.m., stern looking mobile policemen had taken position at the gate of the Federal High Court and other strategic locations. Only journalists were allowed into the court premises after a thorough search by the police's anti-bomb squad.Outside the court gate, Daniel's supporters gathered in groups to show their solidarity with the former governor. They were denied access to the court premises.After several hours of waiting, it was learnt that Daniel's arraignment would no longer hold yesterday because the judges to preside on their former governors' trial were at the 2011 legal year's summit in Sokoto.A source said some of the judges would be excused from the event today to begin the trial of the suspects.
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