The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has filed fresh corruption charges against the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Timipre Sylva.
Sylva is charged alongside Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun, and Samuel Ogbuku, for allegedly used three companies – Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited, to move about 19.2 billion naira from Bayelsa State coffers between 2009 and 2012, under false pretence of using the withdrawn money to augment salaries of the state government workers.
The action of the anti-graft agency comes two days after Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court dismissed the 42-count charge of stealing brought against Sylva and his co-accused by the EFCC, on the grounds that the prosecution’s application to consolidate the charges against the defendants amounted to an abuse of court process.
The case is, however, yet to be assigned to any judge to pave way for the arraignment of Sylva and the other accused persons.
Recently, a Nigerian lawyer, Festus Keyamo, had withdrawn as the counsel prosecuting the former governor, saying recent developments have necessitated his decision from further prosecution.
He also said that the developments may hamper his effective, efficient and vigorous prosecution of the charge, duties that are expected of every prosecutor.
