Abuja: A former governor of an oil-rich state
of Nigeria has been slapped with corruption charges by the
country's anti-graft body for laundering state assets and
money to the tune of USD 15 million.
Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
filed a six-point chargesheet against Timipre Sylva, a former
governor of oil-rich Bayelsa state.
The prosecutor for the EFCC, Festus Keyamo said the former
state chief executive is alleged to have mismanaged USD 15
million from the state coffers in form of assets and cash
during his tenure as governor.
According to a statement issued by Keyamo, Sylva laundered
USD 2.8 million of assets and attempted to defraud the state
of USD 12.5 million.
The governor was removed by the country's Supreme Court
alongside four other governors for staying beyond their
tenure.
Nigeria's state governors receive huge amounts from the
oil proceeds of Nigeria. Some have ended up being slapped with
charges of embezzlement after leaving office.
An immunity clause in the constitution does not allow them
to be arrested or prosecuted during their time in office.
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and has 36 states
that depend heavily on the federal government for revenue.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 25, 2012, 18:10