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Thursday

ALLEGED N300B FRAUD: SHERIFF SURRENDERS TO EFCC, FACES GRILLING


After three years former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff last nigh surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for interrogation over alleged mismanagement of N300billion. He was a governor between 2003 and 2011.
The anti-graft agency had invited Sheriff for questioning since 2012 but he always found one legal excuse or the other.
On April 23 it threatened to declare the ex-governor wanted if he failed to show up for questioning.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Sheriff voluntarily walked up to EFCC headquarters at about 6pm yesterday for interrogation on the allegations against him.
It was gathered that Sheriff surrendered following EFCC’s intense surveillance which may lead to the engagement of INTERPOL to locate him.
It was learnt that the allegations border on misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and abuse of office while in office between 2007 and 2011.
A source in EFCC said: “The ex-governor showed up “miraculously” on Wednesday at our headquarters at about 6pm.“Before his sudden appearance, we had concluded plans to declare him wanted because we gave him ample time to respect this lawful agency.
“Upon getting here, a team of crack operatives was raised to interrogate him. In the last two hours, he has been filling some firms and responding to questions from our officials.
“No one can say whether he will be granted bail tonight or not. But we will keep you posted.”
Another source added: “I think Sheriff might have given up because of his inability to wield political influence like the case during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“He enjoyed presidential comfort in Chad when Jonathan visited President Idris Deby in N’Djamena to the discomfiture of the EFCC.
“But all these Politically- Exposed Persons(PEPs) know that President Muhammadu Buhari will not take nonsense.
The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “We have Sheriff in our custody for interrogation. He came into our office this evening.”
Last week, Uwujaren said the EFCC was planning to declare Shetiff wanted if he refused to honour the invitation of the commission.
He said: “We invited him (Sheriff) for questioning. As I speak to you, he did not honour that invitation.
“Once the commission invites a suspect in a matter and he fails to honour the invitation, options are opened to us. We might declare him wanted. Yes, we might do that.”
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