A statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, read, “following the escape from arrest, of the former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu, from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on December 11, 2012, the commission has concluded plans to declare him wanted.
“The former governor, alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4 billion while he was governor of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003, fled when operatives of the commission stormed his 32, Suleiman Barau street, Aso Villa, Asokoro, Abuja residence in the early hours of today.
“The latest effort to arrest the ex- governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed the ex-governor’s appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by EFCC. The Supreme Court ruling, therefore, clears the way for his fresh arraignment.
“It would be recalled that Audu was arrested in Jos in 2006 after a six-month manhunt by operatives of the commission, before his earlier arraignment at the Kogi State High Court on December 1, 2006, on an 80-count criminal charge of conspiracy, fraud, criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of public fund.
“The EFCC had, while the case lasted at the high court, cause issuance of nolle prosequi by the former Attorney-General of Kogi State, Dr John Alewo Agbonika and the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo on February 8, 2007 for the case to be discontinued at the Kogi State High Court as the commission claimed to have lost faith in the handling of the matter by the State High Court.
“But rather than discontinue the matter in the spirit of the nolle prosequi, the trial judge, Justice Medupin, went ahead as he further referred two questions to the Court of Appeal for determination.”
Tribune
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