Although Akanbi fell short of naming the governors being investigated, he pointed out that giving by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution the governors cannot be prosecuted but that allegations against them could be investigated.

The chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offen-ces Commission (ICPC), Mr. Justice Mustapha Akanbi, confirming yesterday that some state governors are being investigated by the commission for corruption, said that those with proven cases against them would be barred from seeking re-election.

Although Akanbi fell short of naming the governors being investigated, he pointed out that giving by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution the governors cannot be prosecuted but that allegations against them could be investigated.

Fielding questions yesterday at an interactive session with a study group from the Les Aspin Center of Marquette University, Wisconsin USA, with members drawn from US, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria, Akanbi disclosed that the commission was already probing petitions against some governors. He said that though the commission’s investigations would put the immunity clause guarding the incumbent governors into consideration, there would be “no sacred cows.”

He warned that such top political office holders who feel they were permanently covered by the immunity clause, and operate with impunity would be checked.

“If we invite you a gentleman to come and respond to our queries and you don’t come, we will treat you as a ragamuffin,” he said.

The commission is said to be investigating five governors on allegations of corruption. The commission’s spokesman recently denied that Bayelsa State Governor, DSP Alameyeisegha had been clearedd of corruption allegation.

According to Akanbi, the problems faced by the commission in probing alleged financial crimes against former military President Ibrahim Babangida was that beside the fact that the ICPC Act is not retroactive, there has not been any reported act of malpractice levelled against him. Since the Act is not retroactive, he said, only the police can rely on section 69 of the ICPC Act to investigate allegations against Babangida where there was a complaint made against him.

On what the commission has done so far, Akanbi disclosed that a lot of people including judges, lawyers, local government chairmen and policemen have been arrested and prosecuted.

He also disclosed that in a forthnight, two immigration officers who took money from an American that entered the country illegally would be prosecuted.

Urging Nigerians to be patient but not to expect miracles, he averred that for over 20 years nobody had been prosecuted for corrupt practices, adding corruption is not something that will disappear over night.

He also said that designated judges have been appointed, rather than special tribunals to handle cases brought by the commission for adjudication.

Lillian Okenwa, This Day (Lagos), August 9, 2002