Posted by By IKE NNAMDI, The Sun Reporter, Washington DC on
The United States government has barred five Nigerian governors from entering the country with effect December 1. This follows a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The United States government has barred five Nigerian governors from entering the country with effect December 1. This follows a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Sources said Chairman of the EFCC Malam Nuhu Ribadu, made the request to both the Homeland Security Department and Immigration authorities during a stop over in Washington last week before leaving for Guatemala. He further asked the United States officials to probe the finances of the governors.
Daily Sun gathered that British authorities are also investigating two of the governors. While the identity of the state executives is still a closely guarded secret, sources said they include a northern governor, with close ties with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently picked a presidential form of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, a south western governor, a south eastern governor who is also a PDP presidential aspirant, a South-South governor and a Middle Belt governor, who was recently declared wanted by the EFCC.
United States officials said the administration decided to revoke the entry documents of the affected Nigerian officials because Ribadu presented a "compelling case" against them.
The US government had earlier turned down a request for a blanket ban on all serving state chief executives and some categories of senior government officials made by the EFCC, which feared that the people involved may flee from a planned mass arrest after the expiration of their tenure.
The US State Department officials said they are also looking into further requests by the EFCC to probe the finances of close associates of several Nigerian top officials who may be acting as fronts.
"We have to be cautious because these are privacy issues involved. We cannot look into people's private business unless they give up their rights for privacy or unless a very compelling case is made to warrant such an action," an official told Daily Sun.
The Federal Government has been pressing the US authorities to do more to look into the possible ownership of several businesses by serving and former Nigerian officials as part of its war against corruption, with several visits by Ribadu within the past few months.