President Muhammadu Buhari launched his on the
three-pronged promises of securing the lives and
properties of Nigerians, restoring the economy, and
fighting corruption.
Three years down the line, several top former
political office holders have been sent to jail, in
fulfillment of the current administration’s
avowed determination to fight corruption head-
on.
Prominent politicians including former
governors, ministers and political party chiefs
have been made to leave their palatial residences
in highbrow areas of the country to experience
life in prison for engaging in corrupt practices in
office, even if it is just for a few days before they
are granted bails.
While some enjoyed their confinement alone in
prison, a few had the opportunity to pass nights
with their family members. A case in mind was
that of a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule
Lamido, who was at the Kurmawa prison in
Kano with his two sons.
Except for some legislators, Daily Trust reports
that most of the politicians so far remanded in
prison are being tried for corruption crimes
committed in the previous administration.
reports that two convictions have been
secured under this administration , though the
trial of the affected persons started long before
now.
Besides those who have been to prison, there are
others who are on self-exile in an effort to dodge
the net of anti-corruption agencies. In this
category are the former chairman of the PDP,
Adamu Mu’azu, a former petroleum minister,
Diezani Alison-Madueke and Jamila Tangaza, a
former director of the Abuja Geographic
Information Systems (AGIS).
Here is a list of the prominent politicians who
have been to the four walls of the Nigerian
prisons under the Buhari-led administration, as
compiled by Daily Trust.
1. Yero at Kaduna Convict Prison
Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, a former governor of
Kaduna state was recently sent to prison. Within
five years, Yero without contesting an election
became a commissioner, deputy governor and
governor.
Yero, who rose from a finance director in Namadi
Sambo’s firm (Nalado Nigeria Limited) to become
commissioner for finance in 2007, deputy
governor in 2010 and governor in December
2012 following the death of Patrick Ibrahim
Yakowa in a helicopter crash, spent about a week
at the Kaduna Convict Prison.
He was in detention from May 31 to June 6, 2018,
together with a former chairman of the PDP in
the state, Abubakar Gaya-Haruna; a former
secretary to the state government Hamza Ishaq
and a former minister of power, Nuhu Somo
Wya. They are reportedly standing trial over an
alleged case of fraud instituted against them by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
2. Jonah Jang lights up Jos prison
A former governor of Plateau state, retired Air
Commodore Jonah David Jang, was a ‘special
guest’ at the Jos prison where he spent eight
days.
The presence of Jang, the senator representing
Plateau North senatorial district, led to the
restoration of power supply at the prison.
Jang who was a military governor of Benue,
defunct Gongola and Plateau states between 2007
and 2015, is facing a 12-count charge of
diverting N6.3bn alongside a former cashier in
the office of the Secretary to the State
Government, Yusuf Pam. He pleaded not guilty.
3. Bala Ngilari: A convict with a choice
Perhaps, the case of a former Adamawa state
governor, Bala James Ngilari, was the first
conviction recorded under this administration.
In March 2017, Ngilari was jailed and convicted
for failing to adhere to the procurement laws of
the state. In a 75-minute long-ruling, Justice
Nathan Musa found the former governor guilty
of four charges and discharged him on one,
which bordered on conspiracy. He sentenced the
former governor to five years in prison.
4. Nyame, a convicted Reverend
After over a decade trial, Reverend Jolly Nyame,
a former governor of Taraba State, was convicted
and sentenced to 14 years in prison for
misappropriating funds while in office.
Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the high court of
the Federal Capital Territory in Gudu, Abuja, sent
Nyame to jail for criminal breach of trust by
misappropriating N1.64bn preferred against him
by the EFCC.
Born in 1955, Nyame was governor of the state
from January 1992 to November 1993. He also
governed the state from May 1999 to 2007. His
conviction was one of the landmark successes of
the EFCC in recent times.
5. Nwaoboshi, a senator in Kirikiri
For 48 hours, Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP-Delta North)
was a guest at the Kirikiri maximum security
prison over an alleged N805m fraud preferred
against him by the EFCC.
Nwaoboshi who chairs the Senate committee on
NDDC was arraigned alongside two companies -
Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and
Summing Electrical Ltd - on a two-count charge
of fraud and money laundering before Justice
Mohammed Idris. The Delta lawmaker was
granted bail on self-recognition.
6. Lamido and sons at Kurmawa prison
Shortly after the Buhari administration came on
board in July 2015, a former governor of Jigawa
state, Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and
Mustapha, were remanded in Kurmawa prison
on money laundering charges to the tune of
N1.351bn.
Theirs was a family affair as the court was told,
the money was laundered through four
companies belonging to Lamido and his sons.
The companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited,
Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina
Aluminum Limited and Speeds International
Limited. It was gathered that the former
governor was allotted the same cell as his
children. The investigation into the case predated
the Buhari administration. He is one of the
politicians in the PDP eyeing Buhari’s seat.
7. Metuh in Kuje prison
A former spokesman of the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP), Oliseh Metuh, was in the Kuje
prison in Abuja over alleged money laundering.
The EFCC is accusing him of receiving N400
million from a former National Security Adviser,
Sambo Dasuki, believed to be part of $2.1 billion
meant for arms procurement during the previous
administration. The case is still on even as Metuh
at different times appeared in court on a
stretcher.
8. Bala Mohammed and son in Kuje prison
A former minister of FCT, Senator Bala
Mohammed and his son, Shamsudeen, were at
different times kept at the Kuje prison over
allegations of financial misconduct.
Just like the case of the Lamidos, theirs is also a
family affair. While the EFCC arraigned the
father on a six-count charge bordering on N864
million bribery and false assets declaration, his
son was arraigned on a 15-count charge
bordering on money laundering.
9. Ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki
A former national security adviser, Colonel
Sambo Dasuki, has spent 31 months in detention
over an allegation of mismanagement of $2.1bn
meant for the purchase of arms. Most of the
other corruption cases involving top shots had
their root in the Dasukigate as it is now known.
Among those who allegedly participated in the
sharing of the arms money are former governor
of Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa, his Kano
counterpart, Ibrahim Shekarau, Raymond
Dokpesi, Bello Haliru and son, Musiliu Obanikoro
and son.
10. Babangida Aliyu, a chief servant battling
corruption case
A former governor of Niger state, Babangida
Aliyu, has been held by the EFCC over allegations
of abuse of office and money laundering.
The Chief Servant, as he was reportedly called
during his reign, is alleged to have diverted N2
billion ecological funds for political purposes.
11/12. Fani-Kayode at Ikoyi prison, Nenadi at Kirikiri
On the same day in June 2016, a former minister
of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode and that of
finance, Nenadi Usman, went to separate prisons
on remand after they appeared at a court in
Lagos over an alleged N4.9 billion fraud. They
were arraigned before Justice Sule Hassan by the
EFCC on a 17-count charge. While Fani Kayode
was sent to Ikoyi prison, Usman was taken to
Kirikiri prison as Ikoyi prison does not have
facilities for female inmates.
13. Dariye bags 14 years
The latest of all is the case of Senator Joshua
Dariye (APC, Plateau Central) who was on
Tuesday, June 12, sentenced to 14 years in prison
over criminal breach of trust and two years for
misappropriation of public funds, to run
concurrently. Dariye, who defected to the APC in
September 2016, was sentenced by Justice
Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court.
He is allegedly the first member of the ruling
party to be convicted. Out of the 23 count
amended charges, he was found guilty of 15
bordering on criminal breach of trust and
misappropriation of public funds. He was
discharged on eight of the charges. Recall that
the lawmaker was first arraigned in July 2007.
The case which has to do with N1.16bn fraud
had been on for over a decade.
three-pronged promises of securing the lives and
properties of Nigerians, restoring the economy, and
fighting corruption.
Three years down the line, several top former
political office holders have been sent to jail, in
fulfillment of the current administration’s
avowed determination to fight corruption head-
on.
Prominent politicians including former
governors, ministers and political party chiefs
have been made to leave their palatial residences
in highbrow areas of the country to experience
life in prison for engaging in corrupt practices in
office, even if it is just for a few days before they
are granted bails.
While some enjoyed their confinement alone in
prison, a few had the opportunity to pass nights
with their family members. A case in mind was
that of a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule
Lamido, who was at the Kurmawa prison in
Kano with his two sons.
Except for some legislators, Daily Trust reports
that most of the politicians so far remanded in
prison are being tried for corruption crimes
committed in the previous administration.
reports that two convictions have been
secured under this administration , though the
trial of the affected persons started long before
now.
Besides those who have been to prison, there are
others who are on self-exile in an effort to dodge
the net of anti-corruption agencies. In this
category are the former chairman of the PDP,
Adamu Mu’azu, a former petroleum minister,
Diezani Alison-Madueke and Jamila Tangaza, a
former director of the Abuja Geographic
Information Systems (AGIS).
Here is a list of the prominent politicians who
have been to the four walls of the Nigerian
prisons under the Buhari-led administration, as
compiled by Daily Trust.
1. Yero at Kaduna Convict Prison
Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, a former governor of
Kaduna state was recently sent to prison. Within
five years, Yero without contesting an election
became a commissioner, deputy governor and
governor.
Yero, who rose from a finance director in Namadi
Sambo’s firm (Nalado Nigeria Limited) to become
commissioner for finance in 2007, deputy
governor in 2010 and governor in December
2012 following the death of Patrick Ibrahim
Yakowa in a helicopter crash, spent about a week
at the Kaduna Convict Prison.
He was in detention from May 31 to June 6, 2018,
together with a former chairman of the PDP in
the state, Abubakar Gaya-Haruna; a former
secretary to the state government Hamza Ishaq
and a former minister of power, Nuhu Somo
Wya. They are reportedly standing trial over an
alleged case of fraud instituted against them by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
2. Jonah Jang lights up Jos prison
A former governor of Plateau state, retired Air
Commodore Jonah David Jang, was a ‘special
guest’ at the Jos prison where he spent eight
days.
The presence of Jang, the senator representing
Plateau North senatorial district, led to the
restoration of power supply at the prison.
Jang who was a military governor of Benue,
defunct Gongola and Plateau states between 2007
and 2015, is facing a 12-count charge of
diverting N6.3bn alongside a former cashier in
the office of the Secretary to the State
Government, Yusuf Pam. He pleaded not guilty.
3. Bala Ngilari: A convict with a choice
Perhaps, the case of a former Adamawa state
governor, Bala James Ngilari, was the first
conviction recorded under this administration.
In March 2017, Ngilari was jailed and convicted
for failing to adhere to the procurement laws of
the state. In a 75-minute long-ruling, Justice
Nathan Musa found the former governor guilty
of four charges and discharged him on one,
which bordered on conspiracy. He sentenced the
former governor to five years in prison.
4. Nyame, a convicted Reverend
After over a decade trial, Reverend Jolly Nyame,
a former governor of Taraba State, was convicted
and sentenced to 14 years in prison for
misappropriating funds while in office.
Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the high court of
the Federal Capital Territory in Gudu, Abuja, sent
Nyame to jail for criminal breach of trust by
misappropriating N1.64bn preferred against him
by the EFCC.
Born in 1955, Nyame was governor of the state
from January 1992 to November 1993. He also
governed the state from May 1999 to 2007. His
conviction was one of the landmark successes of
the EFCC in recent times.
5. Nwaoboshi, a senator in Kirikiri
For 48 hours, Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP-Delta North)
was a guest at the Kirikiri maximum security
prison over an alleged N805m fraud preferred
against him by the EFCC.
Nwaoboshi who chairs the Senate committee on
NDDC was arraigned alongside two companies -
Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and
Summing Electrical Ltd - on a two-count charge
of fraud and money laundering before Justice
Mohammed Idris. The Delta lawmaker was
granted bail on self-recognition.
6. Lamido and sons at Kurmawa prison
Shortly after the Buhari administration came on
board in July 2015, a former governor of Jigawa
state, Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and
Mustapha, were remanded in Kurmawa prison
on money laundering charges to the tune of
N1.351bn.
Theirs was a family affair as the court was told,
the money was laundered through four
companies belonging to Lamido and his sons.
The companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited,
Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina
Aluminum Limited and Speeds International
Limited. It was gathered that the former
governor was allotted the same cell as his
children. The investigation into the case predated
the Buhari administration. He is one of the
politicians in the PDP eyeing Buhari’s seat.
7. Metuh in Kuje prison
A former spokesman of the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP), Oliseh Metuh, was in the Kuje
prison in Abuja over alleged money laundering.
The EFCC is accusing him of receiving N400
million from a former National Security Adviser,
Sambo Dasuki, believed to be part of $2.1 billion
meant for arms procurement during the previous
administration. The case is still on even as Metuh
at different times appeared in court on a
stretcher.
8. Bala Mohammed and son in Kuje prison
A former minister of FCT, Senator Bala
Mohammed and his son, Shamsudeen, were at
different times kept at the Kuje prison over
allegations of financial misconduct.
Just like the case of the Lamidos, theirs is also a
family affair. While the EFCC arraigned the
father on a six-count charge bordering on N864
million bribery and false assets declaration, his
son was arraigned on a 15-count charge
bordering on money laundering.
9. Ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki
A former national security adviser, Colonel
Sambo Dasuki, has spent 31 months in detention
over an allegation of mismanagement of $2.1bn
meant for the purchase of arms. Most of the
other corruption cases involving top shots had
their root in the Dasukigate as it is now known.
Among those who allegedly participated in the
sharing of the arms money are former governor
of Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa, his Kano
counterpart, Ibrahim Shekarau, Raymond
Dokpesi, Bello Haliru and son, Musiliu Obanikoro
and son.
10. Babangida Aliyu, a chief servant battling
corruption case
A former governor of Niger state, Babangida
Aliyu, has been held by the EFCC over allegations
of abuse of office and money laundering.
The Chief Servant, as he was reportedly called
during his reign, is alleged to have diverted N2
billion ecological funds for political purposes.
11/12. Fani-Kayode at Ikoyi prison, Nenadi at Kirikiri
On the same day in June 2016, a former minister
of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode and that of
finance, Nenadi Usman, went to separate prisons
on remand after they appeared at a court in
Lagos over an alleged N4.9 billion fraud. They
were arraigned before Justice Sule Hassan by the
EFCC on a 17-count charge. While Fani Kayode
was sent to Ikoyi prison, Usman was taken to
Kirikiri prison as Ikoyi prison does not have
facilities for female inmates.
13. Dariye bags 14 years
The latest of all is the case of Senator Joshua
Dariye (APC, Plateau Central) who was on
Tuesday, June 12, sentenced to 14 years in prison
over criminal breach of trust and two years for
misappropriation of public funds, to run
concurrently. Dariye, who defected to the APC in
September 2016, was sentenced by Justice
Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court.
He is allegedly the first member of the ruling
party to be convicted. Out of the 23 count
amended charges, he was found guilty of 15
bordering on criminal breach of trust and
misappropriation of public funds. He was
discharged on eight of the charges. Recall that
the lawmaker was first arraigned in July 2007.
The case which has to do with N1.16bn fraud
had been on for over a decade.
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