By Evelyn Usman & Chinyere Amalu
Posted to the Web: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Chief Alamieyeseigha is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which vowed yesterday to launch a fresh crackdown on corrupt politicians ahead of next year’s elections.

Dr. I. C. Monu, a consultant cardiologist, in a May 27, 2006 medical report on Chief Alamieyeseigha to the EFCC said the detainee has hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

Chief Alamieyeseigha, according to the cardiologist, though has done well on his medications, he “still continues to experience retrosternal discomfort and palpitations, suggesting worsening coronary blood supply. We still maintain that Dr. Alamieyeseigha will require an urgent coronary angiogrpahy with possible transluminal angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery to forestall sudden cardiac death.
“Unfortunately, the facilities for interventional cardiology are not avaialbe in this country. Dr. Alamieyeseigha will have to travel abroad where these facilities are available.”

EFCC probes top politicians

However, speaking in a television interview in Lagos yesterday, chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said crooks and thieves would not be allowed to pollute next year’s elections.
His words: “Deceit is too much in this country. Nobody will be spared in this anti-corruption crusade, including those who think they are coming to take over power (in next year’s poll).

“To rule Nigeria is not a joke. It is our responsibility to ensure that rogues or thieves will not be part of the future democratic process,” he said in the interview to mark the nation’s ‘Democracy Day’.
Although avoiding mention of names of politicians the EFCC is investigating in order “not to jeopardise investigation,” he said some notable politicians, including presidential hopefuls and serving state governors, were under his agency’s probe for corruption.
Ribadu urged politicians planning to contest the 2007 polls to resign from their present high offices to allow for an EFCC's probe. “They must resign. Let them vacate their positions and subject themselves to scrutiny so that we can have a transparent (democratic) process,” said Ribadu, a deputy police commissioner.

The president, his deputy, state governors and their deputies are immune to investigation under the 1999 constitution. The EFCC will investigate “retroactively,” Ribadu said, and added that there would be “no sacred cow.”
“Nobody is above the law in this country, no matter how powerful or influential,” he said in a reply to a question whether his agency would probe former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (1985-93) for corruption.

He denied the charge that President Olusegun Obasanjo was using the EFCC to settle political scores with his political foes. “I do not need permission from the president (Obasanjo) to do my job. Obasanjo does not influence me,” he said.
“We deliberately kept out of it. Now that the issue is over and Obasanjo cannot contest in 2007, we are back to work. Some of the corruption cases will be revisited. Enough is enough for those who stole our money,” Ribadu said.

“We the law enforcement are assigned with the responsibility constitutionally to do the work. If we don’t do it, Nigerians will definitely ask us questions and won’t forgive us. If they are going to vote and seek election, it is our responsibility to ensure that crooks and thieves will not be part of them and I don’t think there is anything to worry if you don’t have skeleton in your cupboard .

“I am not going to mention names. The important thing is that we are just going to do our work. What I believe is that nobody is above the law in this country. Whoever you are, whether you are a powerful person here before, whether you stole so much money and you have the money, we are not interested in your money. Whether you acquired loyalists who are shouting everywhere, we will not spare anybody.

“This county deserves what we are doing. The deceit is too much. For so long we have been doing the wrong and bad things. But some of us will have to stand out courageously and say the truth and refuse the bad people from doing what they like with our money. Some of them think that it is a joke but when the job starts they will see. If you see any fraudulent politician who thinks he can bring millions and billions to buy votes and compromise the process, he is in for a shocker. We will not sit down and allow them to just do that.”
Ribadu said the commission was currently carrying out investigation on all governors and threatened that some of them would soon be shown the way out if found liable.

“We have a governor in custody today. We have a couple of them that we have taken to court already and we have one or two that are likely going to go very soon. We have investigation being carried out now. I can tell you, nobody is spared. Everybody and including of course those who think they are coming to take over and rule this country. Ruling Nigeria is not a joke. And nothing will stop us as long as we have this opportunity to do what we are doing.”

On why EFCC had not investigated the alleged N8 billion cheque that was returned in the name of a certain senator, Ribadu described the allegation as false and explained that investigation was immediately carried out to ascertain the authenticity of the allegation. He said: “We went to the senators, begged them to give us a copy of the cheque, nobody gave us. They told us it was from a particular bank. We went to the bank to check, not even a N100 million was paid him.”

He said the senator who was reported to have returned the cheque was arrested and his apartment searched, but nothing close to the amount was found. He challenged anyone who has evidence to come forward with the cheque.

Also reacting on the launch of the presidential library, Ribadu said the only area of interest to the commission was to ensure that public money was not spent. He said investigation carried out by the commission showed that President Obasanjo spent his personal money.