Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

2007 elections but then taken off in response to political pressure. The same
allegations were made regarding current Nigerian Vice President Goodluck
Jonathan, then serving as governor of Bayelsa State. 151
• An investigation into allegations of corruption by PDP chieftain Olabode
George during his time as head of the Ports Authority was allowed to die
without any convincing explanation on the part of the EFCC. 152
• The EFCC refused to investigate widespread allegations of corruption against
Andy Uba, a powerful aide to President Obasanjo and ultimately the PDP
candidate for Governor of Anambra State, even after he was caught by US
customs officials attempting to smuggle $170,000 in cash into the United
States on board Nigeria’s presidential jet. 153
• The EFCC made no real attempt to investigate credible allegations that
officials in the presidency attempted to bribe members of the National
Assembly into voting in favor of Obasanjo’s abortive attempt at changing the
constitution to allow himself a third term in office. 154
Where the EFCC did exercise its power under Obasanjo, it was often for the purpose of
coercing individuals into acquiescing to the will of the presidency. In Anambra State,
for example, PDP officials combined bribery with the threat of EFCC investigation to
coerce legislators into impeaching opposition Governor Peter Obi. One of the
legislators involved, who ultimately yielded to the demands being made of him, said
“The way we see it, the EFCC, it has nothing to do with whether you have committed
any offense or not. They will come and arrest a person for any reason and keep him
151 Human Rights Watch interviews with journalists and western diplomatic sources, Lagos and Abuja, early 2007.
152 Olabode George was accused of involvement in fraud after an EFCC investigation uncovered massive corruption at the NPA
during his stewardship. It was alleged that George awarded nearly 30,000 separate contracts worth N85 billion as head of the
NPA and that many of these were fraudulent. While EFCC investigations turned up evidence linking him to the fraud, charges
were never pursued and no explanation was ever provided by the EFCC or the Presidency for this omission. See, e.g., “Nigeria
Port Authority Fraud: Bode George’s Many Lies,” The News, June 6, 2007, available online at
http://www.saharareporters.com/www/report/detail/?prevpage=0&startpage=10025&x=2&id=310 (accessed July 12, 2007).
153 See Human Rights Watch, Chop Fine, pp.98-99; Gilbert Da Costa, “Nigerian Opposition Leaders Seek Probe of Indicted
Presidential Aide,” Voice of America, November 8, 2006, http://voanews.com/english/2006-11-08-voa61.cfm (accessed
November 8, 2006).
154 Human Rights Watch, Chop Fine, p. 97.
Criminal Politics 50