General News
Ex-Governors Have N172Bn Cases of Fraud- Punch

Saturday Punch has revealed that over N172 billion fraud cases are pending against some senators-elect who were formerly governors.
Over 15 ex-governors won senate seats in the March 28 election with many of them having cases of corruption ranging from misappropriation of public funds to money laundering hanging over their necks.
Some ex-governors have been in the senate before the last elections while a fresh set of former governors will be joining them when the new legislature is inaugurated on June 6, 2015 by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
According to Saturday Punch, the list of the ex-governors elected as senators, who allegedly have fraud cases against them, whether old or new, include Bukola Saraki, Theodore Orji, Adamu Aliero, Sam Egwu, Joshua Dariye, Danjuma Goje and Abdullahi Adamu.
The immunity clause in Nigeria’s constitution protects the President, vice-president, governors and their deputies from prosecution while in office but even after these public office holders leave office, findings show that anti-graft agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) have failed to pursue their cases to logical conclusions.
Former Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, recently won the parliamentary election to represent Ebonyi North Senatorial District in spite of the corruption charges levelled against him.
Egwu allegedly misappropriated close to N80bn while in office as governor between 1999 and 2007.
He was also said to have left a debt profile of N10bn for his successor.
Also, the former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who was in office between 1999 and 2007, became a senator four years later. Since that time, Adamu has been returned to the position after subsequent elections.
However, his record with the EFCC is also allegedly unclean but that is as far as it goes.
In February, 2010, Adamu was arrested by the EFCC for alleged embezzlement of public funds. On March 3 of the same year, he was arraigned in court alongside 18 others on a 149-count charge of fraud involving over N15bn, but the case has continued to drag in court with no headway.
Interestingly, in an interview in February 2011, as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for Nasarawa West Senatorial seat, Adamu dismissed the EFCC case against him, describing it as “mere allegations.”
He boasted that the EFFC case would not affect his candidature and truly after the poll, Adamu emerged winner, beating his closest rival, Gen. Ahmed Aboki (retd).
Similarly, the former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, and four others, were first arraigned in court on October 17, 2011 on conspiracy, fraud and money laundering charges. He allegedly embezzled N52bn public fund.
Senator Bukola Saraki, who is currently vying for the seat of the Senate president, has been a subject of investigations by the Special Fraud Unit of the Police following allegations of an N11bn loans scam preferred against him.
The said loans were allegedly secured by Saraki between 2004 and 2009 when he was the governor of Kwara State.
The SFU said the loans were used to purchase shares of blue chip companies and choice property in Lagos and Abuja, some of which were used to secure the loans.
In addition, Saraki has allegedly been receiving N100m monthly as an illegal pension from the current government of Kwara State.
Adamu Aliero was the Governor of Kebbi State between May 1999 and May 2007. Between December 2006 and August 2008, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission received three petitions asking the anti-graft agencies to investigate Alierio over N10.2bn fraud. It was, however, learnt that the allegations were not investigated.
But following an ex-parte application by an indigene of the state, Alhaji Sani Dododo, for an order of mandamus compelling EFCC and ICPC to investigate the allegations, Justice Adamu Bello summoned Aliero to appear before it. The judge also summoned the two anti-graft agencies to explain why they failed in their statutory duties to investigate Aliero for alleged fraud.
Aliero will be one of the 109 senators that will be inaugurated on June 6.
On July 13, 2007, the EFCC arraigned a former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye, on a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering and other corruption charges.
The EFCC accused Dariye of diverting about N1.2bn of the state’s ecological funds into the account of Ebenezer Ratnen Venture, one of the companies through which the former governor allegedly siphoned public funds.
In spite of the allegations against Dariye, he won a senatorial seat in the 2011 polls. He also pleaded not guilty to the charges and went ahead to challenge the competence of the charges instituted against him and the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to entertain the suit.
But in a unanimous judgement by a five-man Supreme Court panel on February 27, 2015, the court ordered the accused to return to the FCT High Court in Gudu, Abuja, to face his trial. Dariye’s interlocutory appeal had stalled the trial for eight years.
Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who delivered the lead judgement, described the scenario played out in the entire case as a “sad commentary” on the nation’s fight against corruption.
The outgoing Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, was elected on May 29, 2007 and re-elected on April 26, 2011. He was formerly a career civil servant, serving as the Chief of Staff to his predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.
Meanwhile, during his first tenure as governor, there were petitions to the ICPC to investigate Orji for money laundering allegations brought against him.
Since Orji could not be prosecuted at the time, ICPC detained the Accountant-General of the state, Mrs. Bridget Onyema, for two days and later granted her administrative bail.
The arrest was in connection with a series of petitions sent to the commission to investigate the whereabouts of about N1.9632bn allegedly transferred under the guise of travel estacodes to the governor, his deputy, their wives and families, as well as 23 other persons who swelled the governor’s entourage to the World Igbo Congress held in Tampa Bay, Florida, the United States, in 2008.
In 2015, the Budget office approved a sum of about N9.4bn for the EFCC for the year.
The agency’s Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, according to reports, lamented that the budget was a decline from the about N12.2bn appropriated for the agency in 2014.
The budget covers capital expenditures, personnel cost and overhead cost.
In 2014, the agency allocated N284.6m to hire competent and reputable lawyers to pursue the trial of former governors being prosecuted to a logical conclusion.
It will be recalled that an Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, recently said the EFCC had lost focus in its fight against corruption in the country.
The former Federal Commissioner for Information stated this against the background of the claim by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), that his fight against corruption would start from May 29, 2015 when he would have been sworn-in as the President.
Clark said the implication of Buhari’s statement was that those who were facing corrupt charges or accused of corruption before May 29 would be pardoned.
When one of our correspondents contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday, he said that it was not the practice of the commission to give notification to those to be investigated.
He said only those who are entitled to enjoy immunity as provided for in the constitution would be excluded from prosecution.
Uwujaren said, “It is not the commission’s practice to give public notice ahead of investigation of persons, alleged to have committed financial crimes.
“Be assured that only persons that are constitutionally vested with immunity from prosecution by virtue of the office which they hold are excluded from prosecution by the EFCC for the period they are in such offices.”
Orji, however, said he was not afraid of any anti-graft agency “whether the EFCC or the ICPC”.
Orji, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Ama Abraham, said he was not losing sleep over petitions of money laundering allegations against him during his first tenure.
Abraham said, “The governor is not afraid to render account of his stewardship as the governor of Abia State. The governor believes in the rule of law.”
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Egwu also denied that he misappropriated N80bn during his time as Ebonyi State governor. He also denied that he left a debt profile of N10bn for his successor.
The former governor said, “Whoever is making that allegation must be suffering from a mental problem, he must be suffering from malaria that has refused to be cured.
“Instead of making allegations in the media, they should know the appropriate places to go to. They should go to the police, or the EFCC, (or) to the ICPC.”
Asked if the allegations will affect his duties as a senator, Egwu said, “Let them go ahead – constitutionally I am not under immunity as a senator.”
The Special Assistant to Saraki on Media Affairs, Mr. Bankole Omishore, said on Friday that the police and the office of the Solicitor-General of the Federation had since 2012 absolved his boss of any criminal allegation.
He also said that there was no case currently involving Saraki and any anti -graft agency.
Omishore told one of our correspondents in Abuja that the allegation of financial fraud was being played up against Saraki by his detractors.
Efforts to reach other elected senators like Aliero, Dariye, Goje and Adamu mentioned in the report on their telephones were not successful. Text messages sent to their telephones were also not replied.
Meanwhile, some Senior Advocates of Nigeria on Friday urged the anti-corruption agencies and the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration to follow through the pending corruption charges instituted against the former governors who are now senators-elect.
The SANs – Prof. Itse Sagay, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, Messrs Femi Falana and Yusuf Ali- said the anti-corruption agencies, particularly, the EFCC, had no excuse for failing to ensure that the cases were brought to logical conclusion.
Sagay said with the election of Buhari as President, EFCC should be encouraged to perform its duties without any fear of victimisation.
He said, “They (the corruption cases against the former governors) are EFCC matters. There are institutions set up to do certain jobs. So EFCC should do its job.
“Buhari cannot be doing everything. The election of Buhari should encourage them that when they are doing their job, nobody will victimise them.”
Falana said alleged impunity which was responsible for indefinite adjournment of the corruption cases against the former governors must stop.
On his part, Ali said the election of the former governors into the Senate did not confer any immunity on them.
He said the anti-graft agencies had no excuse not to proceed with the cases against such senators-elect.
Ali said, “A criminal offence does not die until the person accused dies. An allegation that you have committed a crime is going to be there until the person that is accused dies.”
According to Nwobike, the former governors now senators-elect with pending criminal charges against them deserve no special treatment from the anti-corruption agencies.
He said, “They do not deserve any special consideration. Being elected into the senate does not confer any immunity on them.”
The Publicity Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere Renewal Group, Kunle Famoriyo, said nobody should be above the law.
He said, “It is only in Nigeria that we belabour things like this; once you run foul of the law in a modern society, you have to face the consequences. So, there is nothing special about this if we really want a corruption-free country.
“After all, they are no longer protected by immunity; it’s over. They should face the consequences like every other Nigerian. Nobody should be regarded as being more superior than the law of the land.”
He called for accelerated hearings on cases by the judiciary, saying, “It’s when cases are delayed for so long that people come to try to influence the law, knowing the African society where we see one another as brothers and sisters. Everything is in the hands of the judiciary.”
General News
AfDB, AfCFTA Unite to Unlock $3.4 Trillion Continental Market Through Strategic Infrastructure Development

The African Development Bank Group, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and Africa50 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to catalyse infrastructure development across the continent and unlock the full potential of the largest free trade area in the world since the establishment of the World Trade Organization.
Signed at the Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Maputo, the tripartite agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation in identifying, designing, constructing, and maintaining critical infrastructure projects that will enhance intra-African trade, accelerate regional integration, and drive digital transformation across the continent’s market of 1.3 billion people.
Currently, intra-African trade accounts for just 15–18% of total African trade, compared to 68% in Europe and 59% in Asia. The new partnership between the three institutions aims to dramatically increase this figure by addressing the infrastructure gaps that currently constrain trade flows across African borders.
It will prioritise developing multimodal transport corridors, cross-border infrastructure, logistics hubs, ports, and airports to seamlessly connect African markets and reduce the cost of doing business across borders.
Recognising the transformative power of the digital revolution, the partners will also work together to establish cutting-edge data centres and digital trade platforms, enabling African businesses to compete in the global digital economy.
“The African Development Bank has played a lead role in supporting the development and operation of regional economic corridors throughout the African continent by investing over $55 billion in the last nine years to develop road corridors, ports, railways, and expand power pools to interlink countries and boost trade,” said Solomon Quaynor, the Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization.
Specifically, the Bank invested over $8 billion across 109 cross-border, economic corridors, and infrastructure projects between 2014 and 2024
He added: “The tripartite agreement between the AfCFTA Secretariat, the African Development Bank, and Africa50 underscores the paramount importance of realizing the full potential of the AfCFTA single market with its combined annual GDP of $3.4 trillion through the establishment of transport infrastructure.”
Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50, emphasized that the agreement will support “the development and financing of trade-enabling infrastructure to boost intra-African trade, one of the continent’s greatest endeavours.”
The partnership will operate on six strategic pillars: ensuring alignment with the AfCFTA Agreement and regional policies; jointly identifying bankable projects; mobilising capital through innovative finance mechanisms; establishing robust tracking systems; encouraging stakeholder dialogue; and integrating environmental, social, and governance standards throughout project lifecycles.
The three-year memorandum of understanding will be operationalised through detailed joint work plans and specific implementation agreements that will define projects, timelines, and financing arrangements. Technical working groups will be established to ensure effective coordination among the partners and alignment with national and regional development priorities.
Speaking on a panel at the Africa50 event, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, said: “In the global context, we are facing an unprecedented challenge in Africa.
“But this challenge is a unique opportunity for Africa; it is a wake-up call for us that we have to invest in our institutions, in infrastructure, and our skills. Infrastructure development is at the heart of trade and is a prerequisite to doubling intra-African trade to 25% by 2030.”
General News
Vitel Wireless, First MVNO Begins SIM Distribution

Vitel Wireless, Nigeria’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) has entered into partnership with Slot Systems Limited for distribution of its SIM cards and other gadgets around the country.
Chudi Nwabueze, managing director, Vitel Wireless who described the partnership as a defining moment for his company said Vitel Wireles’s purpose is clear: to transform connectivity in Nigeria through innovation, affordability, and seamless access.
Nwabueze, who spoke in Lagos recently at the official engagement with Slot said Vitel Wireless, as the nation’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator is committed to creating smart, reliable solutions that break down barriers to communication and make it easier and more cost-effective for people to stay connected anytime, anywhere.
“This partnership with SLOT is a meeting of shared values and vision. By combining our innovative mobile services with SLOT’s extensive retail presence, we are making Vitel Wireless SIM cards and the connectivity they offer more accessible than ever before. Customers will now be able to purchase, register, and top-up their SIM cards conveniently within their own communities.”
He described the collaboration as more than just distribution, ”it is about empowering people. It is about bridging the connectivity gap with technology, accessibility, and affordability at the heart of everything we do.”
Nwabueze further explained Vitel Wireless SIM card is a location technology awareness card. It can track whereabouts of a person. This information can help the police, on official demand, in case of unfortunate incident.
He said the disadvantages of tracking a person’s whereabout outweighs the advantages.
He explained that access code is given to another person for tracking.
“We operate as a core network and we have integrated with all the major networks in Nigeria, including international calls. So, on a simple language, we are a GSM company, that you do call, SMS, data and we offer more value like safety. And the good news is that we are spread out in the 36 States plus Abuja FCT in Nigeria.
General News
Digital Realty Nigeria Launches ServiceFabric Platform Today

Digital Realty Nigeria, a carrier-neutral data centre operator, will be launching its ServiceFabric® platform alongside opening of its new LKK2 Data Centre in Lagos today.
ServiceFabric Platform in Lagos Nigeria, aligned with Digital Realty’s commitment to enabling seamless global interconnectivity for businesses, providing enterprise customers in Nigeria with the ability to connect whenever, wherever, and to whoever they need to.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, managing director, Digital Realty Nigeria, said that the presence of ServiceFabric in Lagos will support the growing demand for hybrid IT and multi-cloud connectivity, empowering businesses with a secure, software-defined interconnection platform.
Located in the nearby coastal area of Lekki, LKK2 adds nearly 2MW of installed IT capacity across nearly 13,000 square feet of data hall space, supporting the growing demand for scalable, high-performance infrastructure across Nigeria and the broader region. LKK2 will be interconnected with Digital Realty’s existing LKK1 facility, which serves as the landing station for the 2Africa subsea cable, offering customers seamless access to the cable’s 46+ landing points in 33 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The integration of LKK2 with the 2Africa cable landing station at LKK1 enables businesses in West Africa to leverage low-latency connectivity and reliable access to global cloud and network services. This setup supports improved application performance and enhances access to international digital ecosystems through a carrier-neutral platform.
This new facility integrates with ServiceFabric®, Digital Realty’s global interconnection and orchestration platform, ensuring low-latency, high-throughput connectivity to local, regional, and international destinations. Through ServiceFabric®, LKK2 will interconnect with LOS1, the region’s top internet peering point, and LOS2, Digital Realty’s highly connected data centers located on Victoria Island in Lagos.
Together, this ecosystem delivers robust resilience, redundancy, speed, and scale for enterprise and hyperscale customers seeking to expand into a fast-growing digital market, ensuring continuous, reliable operations.
“LKK2 is a significant milestone in our journey to support digital transformation in Africa,” said Ike Nnamani, Managing Director, Digital Realty in Nigeria. “Our continued investment in Nigeria and the broader African region reinforces our commitment to enabling seamless global interconnectivity and providing a future-ready infrastructure platform for local and global enterprises.”
This strategic expansion reinforces Digital Realty’s commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation by delivering the infrastructure and connectivity needed to support innovation and growth across the continent. Recently ranked number one in Africa on Cloudscene’s Data Center Ecosystem Leaderboard, the company continues to cement its position as a leading enabler of the continent’s digital future. With the exponential growth of data and the acceleration of digital initiatives across the region, LKK2 provides the additional capacity which enterprises and content providers need to grow, scale, and connect – wherever and whenever they need to.
LKK2, due to become operational later this year, will support both local enterprises and multinational organizations seeking reliable, secure, and interconnected infrastructure in Africa.
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