The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized the passport of the immediate past Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, following allegations of N76bn fraud perpetrated by him.
Shema reported to the EFCC on Friday after being declared wanted, and although he met his bail conditions, the anti-graft agency refused to release him, Punch writes.
“You will recall that the EFCC declared Shema wanted even though they knew he was not on the run. They had invited him for questioning in June but when he arrived at their office, he was informed that the detective in charge, Mr. Hyecinth A. Edozie, was out of Abuja, and that a new date, after Sallah, would be communicated,” a source said.
“However, they never informed him of a new date and then went ahead to declare him wanted. On getting to the EFCC on Friday, the ex-governor presented a stamped document acknowledging that he had honoured the EFCC’s invitation in June.
“After being grilled for several hours, the EFCC gave him bail conditions, including that he tenders his passport and property documents of his sureties which he did. However, the EFCC still refused to grant him bail and said he should wait till Monday.”
Shema’s travails began after his successor, Governor Bello Masari, accused him of financial impropriety and diversion of billions of naira.
Masari, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, alleged that the former governor misappropriated over N76.6bn collected as excess crude oil allocation and diverted over N7.5bn into his private pocket, among other allegations.
Shema, however, has accused the EFCC of being used to execute the political vendetta of Masari.
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