The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dissociated itself from a phantom report circulating in sections of the media claiming it has released a full list of ex- governors being investigated for alleged corruption.
On Saturday, several reports emerged in the media that 58 former governors were under the radar of the anti-graft agency. They were accused of misappropriating N2.187 trillion over 25 years.
According to reports, the 58 former governors – drawn from the six regions of the country – were being probed, while others have been investigated, and prosecuted.
But the Head Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said the report is false and mischievous.
He said the Commission neither issued the said list nor entertained discussions on investigation of ex-governors with any news medium.
“This invariably means that the so-called list is a disingenuous fabrication designed to achieve motives known only to the authors”, he said.
The anti-graft agency urged the public to disregard the report, saying “it is false and misleading.”
“The public is enjoined to ignore the report as it is false and misleading”.
It also urged media practitioners to crosscheck facts about matters under investigation with the Commission to avoid misleading the public with false and inaccurate reports.
“The media is advised to endeavour to crosscheck facts pertaining to matters under investigation with the Commission to avoid misleading the public with false and inaccurate reports”.
Recently, the EFCC has been probing some former governors over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
Among them is the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is being arraigned on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.
According to the EFCC, the embattled ex-governor withdrew $720,000 from the state’s accounts to pay his child’s school fees in advance just before he left office on January 27, 2024.
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