There are strong indications that former President
Goodluck Jonathan may have gone into temporary self exile in Cote d’Ivoire,
following reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may
arrest him on his arrival in Nigeria from his overseas tour on allegations of
corruption and misappropriation of
billions of dollars in the five years during which he was Head of State.
THISDAY reports that several sources close to the
ex-president, have confirmed that Jonathan had sought refuge last week in the
West African country, also blamed the heightened attacks on oil and gas
installations by Ijaw militants in the Niger Delta, resulting in the loss of an
estimated 800,000-900,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), to what they
claimed was “the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to renege on his
promise that his predecessor had ‘nothing to fear’ from him (Buhari) after he
handed over the reins of power on May 29, 2015”.
Immediately after his
electoral victory in 2015 and at his presidential inauguration, Buhari, in what
was seen as a political gesture, had stated that he would not go after his
successor, despite allegations that the former president had presided over
widespread corruption during his five years in the saddle.
However, since Jonathan’s
departure, anti-corruption agencies led by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) have swept in on several associates of the former president
on allegations of money laundering, diversion of public funds and contract
scams, mostly linked to defence sector contracts and the purchase of arms used
for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram in the North-east.
In recent weeks, the EFCC has
in addition to arresting and prosecuting several public office holders who
served under the Jonathan administration, arrested some of the closest allies
of the former president including his cousin, Mr. Aziobola Robert, in
connection to a $40 million pipeline surveillance contract, and his former
principal secretary and confidant Mr. Hassan Tukur. These arrests were said to
have shaken the former president, given that they were the two persons closest
to him during his presidency.
A source, who spoke to THISDAY
on Jonathan’s decision to give Nigeria a wide berth, said the former president
was reliably warned by security sources of the plan to arrest him once he
stepped into the country, hence his decision to seek exile in Cote d’Ivoire.
Jonathan, the source
disclosed, departed Nigeria for the United States almost two months ago
travelling to several cities but stayed in New York for some two weeks. After
departing the US, he travelled to London to be with his children for a few
days, preparatory to his return to Nigeria.
But while in the UK, he was
warned by sympathetic officials in different arms of government of the
government’s decision to arrest him once he returned to Nigeria.
On getting wind of the
plan, Jonathan, THISDAY gathered, contacted a few West African leaders
including the President of Cote d’Iviore, Mr. Alassane Outtara, who offered him
a safe haven until the coast is clear for him to return to Nigeria.
Sources close to the president
said since the information of the government’s resolve to arrest Jonathan swept
through the Niger Delta, Ijaw militants have gone berserk and stepped up their
attacks on oil and gas installations in the region. They are said to be hell
bent on shutting down oil output completely.
One source said the militants
are targeting all onshore and shallow water installations, from where Nigeria
derives the bulk of 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings and may head
for the deep offshore oil fields if the federal government does not back down.
Hmmmm!
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