AHEAD OF MAY 29 -       There are strong indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is monitoring the bank accounts of various states to prevent outgoing governors from looting their state coffers. PRO

It was gathered that the bank accounts of many states, including that of Imo, Kano, Kwara, Lagos and others, might have been placed under special watch.

The monitoring of the states’ bank accounts was reportedly meant to prevent them from being depleted by governors.

Sources informed Saturday PUNCH on Friday that the commission was particularly focusing on outgoing governors who might want to siphon public funds before leaving office.

The action was sequel to intelligence report about suspicious financial activities by top officials of the concerned states.

This is happening barely one week after the arrest of the Imo State acting Accountant-General, Mr Uzoho Casmir, on allegations of withdrawing N1.050bn from the state coffers for vote-buying on the instruction of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Uzoho’s arrest on Thursday last week followed intelligence report that the governor allegedly intended to use the money for vote-buying in favour of his preferred candidate in the March 16 governorship elections.

The anti-graft agency was also said to have uncovered about N1bn cash withdrawal by the Kwara State Government, a week before the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Investigations by the EFCC operatives revealed that the money was withdrawn from the state’s account domiciled with Sterling Bank.

A source who reportedly confide on news personnel said, “Following intelligence reports that some state governments were looting public funds to induce voters during the elections, the EFCC set up a special team which has successfully tracked the financial improprieties by Imo, Kano and Kwara states.

“The agency is also monitoring the accounts of many other states to prevent suspicious withdrawals and transactions.”

Although the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, did not deny or confirm the surveillance on the bank accounts of state governments as he simply said that part of the responsibility of the Commission was to prevent corruption.

He said, “Whether somebody is leaving office or not is not the reason we are investigating, we have the mandate and by virtue of a Supreme Court pronouncement, anyone can be investigated.

“Immunity precludes some people from being prosecuted and these are the President, Vice President, the governors and their deputies. So, whether you are leaving office after a second term or not, it does not stop ongoing investigation activities.”