Rivers State is gripped by tension as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shockingly reopens the long-dormant case to investigate former Governor Dr. Peter Odili’s alleged involvement in a staggering N100 billion fraud.
This stunning revival of the probe, dormant for over 16 years, resurfaces lingering questions about Odili’s financial dealings during his tenure, prompting the anti-graft agency to demand answers on the colossal sum that reportedly flowed into his private account or was expended by his administration.
Despite securing a perpetual injunction towards the end of his eight-year tenure, Odili now faces the daunting task of explaining the financial intricacies surrounding the massive sum.
The genesis of Odili’s predicament dates back to the era of President Olusegun Obasanjo when he aimed for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential ticket but allegedly faced a halt due to financial impropriety allegations.
Adding a captivating twist, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former EFCC chairman and key figure in Odili’s initial probe, now serves as the National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
Notably, the EFCC’s pursuit involved arresting Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, then Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly under Odili, to extract crucial information on the state’s financial transactions.
In a legal maneuver in 2008, Odili obtained a perpetual injunction barring EFCC from investigating the financial records of the Rivers State government, including himself.
However, the EFCC, after over a decade and a half, has resurfaced to shine a spotlight on the alleged fraud linked to the former governor.
Amidst this seismic development, it remains unclear whether the renewed probe is entangled with the ongoing political crisis in the state, as Odili is not the sole former governor under EFCC scrutiny.
