Apprehension as EFCC arraigns ex-gov Babangida Aliyu today

Apprehension has con­tinued to build up among residents in Minna, the Niger State capital, following the planned arraign­ment of former governor of the state, Dr. Muazu Babangi­da Aliyu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption.

Aliyu’s arrest and possible trial today, has taken the cen­tre stage of discussions among his supporters and opponents who are rooting for his prose­cution by the present admin­istration.

His opponents are said to be grouping to embarrass him when he is brought to court by the EFCC.

Some civil servants, The AUTHORITY learnt, are alleg­edly involved in the anti-Ali­yu plot because of the failure of his administration to pay them the 7.5% contributory pension.

Unofficial sources said that some of those engaged in the plot were arrested by op­eratives of the Department of State Services (DSS) last week­end.

It was learnt that over 150 armed security personnel, mostly from Abuja, are to be deployed in the premises of the State High Court today when the trial begins.

When the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana was contacted on the matter, he neither confirmed nor denied the story.

Elkana merely said that the police were not involved in the prosecution of the former gov­ernor, stressing that “the EFCC which is prosecuting him has all it takes to protect life and property during and after the trial.”-The Authority