Timi Frank Calls for EFCC to Pursue Other Ex-Governors Facing Corruption Allegations
ABUJA/Nigeria: Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has endorsed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) recent arrest of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, over alleged financial misconduct.
Frank, in a statement from Abuja, commended the arrest as a positive step but urged the EFCC to broaden its scope to include other former governors with similar allegations, especially the so-called G-5 Governors.
Frank argued that addressing corruption in Nigeria requires consistency, not selective actions. “We support the EFCC’s commitment to tackling corruption and holding public officials accountable,” he said. “However, it is crucial that the Commission refrains from politically motivated actions targeting opposition members alone. Okowa’s arrest must not be an isolated case simply because he is affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
The G-5 Governors in question include Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), all of whom had backed Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, despite being members of the PDP. Frank asserted that each has faced accusations of corruption, which he claimed are being ignored.
Frank called on the EFCC to probe these former governors, emphasising the importance of impartiality. “While we applaud the EFCC’s action on Okowa, we expect the Commission to act similarly against Wike, Ortom, Ugwuanyi, and Ikpeazu. No individual, including Wike, who now holds a ministerial position, should be above the law,” he said.
Frank, who is also the United Liberation Movement for West Papua Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, challenged the EFCC to act on petitions against these individuals. “There are credible reports suggesting a presidential directive discouraging the EFCC from prosecuting the G-5 Governors as part of a political bargain during the last election,” he alleged. “If the EFCC is truly impartial, let it investigate and act on these petitions without bias.”
He criticised the EFCC’s apparent inaction over other corruption allegations involving officials in President Tinubu’s government, including Minister of Works David Umahi and Minister of State for Defence Mohammed Bello Matawalle, who have both been embroiled in trading corruption accusations with various state governments.
Frank called on the EFCC to demonstrate transparency, warning that the Commission’s credibility is at risk. “Failing to prosecute other former governors and officials with pending petitions suggests selective justice and undermines the legitimacy of Okowa’s arrest. This perceived bias could lead us to involve the UK and US authorities, potentially impacting international cooperation with Nigeria on anti-corruption matters.”
He urged the EFCC to either act fairly or release Okowa unconditionally. “Selective prosecution based on political affiliation damages public trust,” he added. “The EFCC must pursue a comprehensive approach that holds all accused individuals accountable, regardless of party loyalty.”
Frank concluded by reiterating his call for the EFCC to adhere to its principles of impartiality, transparency, and adherence to due process. “Nigerians deserve a Commission that serves justice without fear or favour. Only by enforcing these standards can the EFCC genuinely uphold the rule of law and restore public confidence in its mission.”
