EFCC to 'extradite' former minister

The EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri, has said that the federal government has initiated processes for the extradition of Nasir el-Rufai, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), even as the Minister of Justice restated government's resolve to prosecute him.

Ms. Waziri said this in Abuja on Wednesday at a news conference to mark the sixth anniversary of the commission, explaining that the case against El-Rufai had been filed in court and that the commission would soon commence the process of the extradition.

She said El-Rufai was wanted by the commission to answer questions on grave allegations levelled against him in petitions before the commission. She reminded her audience that in response to a letter requesting his presence at the commission in December last year, "El-Rufai said he cannot honour the invitation because he is studying in London and asked the commission to send questionnaires to him through his lawyers."

"I find this strange coming from a Nigerian citizen under a democratic government that preaches the rule of law and due process and where law enforcement agencies cannot detain a citizen for more than 24 hours. "What the EFCC expects from any Nigerian invited by it is for the invited person to come to commission with his lawyers,'' she said.

"The cases against him involve the revocation of land and transfer of such plots to members of his family and relations and the destruction of people's property,'' she added.

According to her, the EFCC has investigated and filed several high profile cases in court including those of former governors and ministers.

"Some of the high profile cases are those involving Michael Botmang, Boni Haruna, Rasheed Ladoja, Bode George, Femi Fani-Kayode, Babalola Borisade, Kenny Martins, Prince Ibrahim Demuje, Roland Iyayi, Nyeson Wike, (Chief of Staff Rivers State) and four Senior Managers of Zenith Bank."

"We are similarly trying Patrick Fernandez, 13 Philippinos and 6 Ghanaians and Alder George over the aviation fund,'' she said. Ms. Waziri said "with these cases, El-Rufai's allegations of selective investigation and trial had no substance given the personalities involved."

Abuse of Office

The Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, also on Wednesday said arrangements are being concluded to prosecute the former FCT minister, Nasiru El-Rufai, on charges of abuse of office and corrupt practices.

Mr. Aondoakaa made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja. He said already the Senate Committee that investigated the activities of the former Minister, "has established cases of corruption and abuse of office against him."

Mr. Aondoakaa said: "El-Rufai is likely to be charged to court on allegations of abuse of office and corruption charges, which have been established by the Senate Committee.

"I'm following due process. I'm not talking against him. Now that he sees apparently that constitutionally he cannot stop government from prosecuting somebody ... he is trying to deceive foreign governments, where he is staying, that he is a political prisoner.

He is aiming at something, trying to get political asylum by criticising government so that when I make a request for his extradition from that government he will say it is because he criticised the government. I think it is a bit too late and he is being clever by half."