(News) Presidency says governors hijacking local government funds will be tried

The Nigerian presidency is warning governors who are fond of hijacking funds meant for local governments in their states 

The presidency asked the office of the attorney-general to continue to monitor these governors  

Ita Enang, presidential aide on Niger Delta, said such governors would be prosecuted when their tenures elapse 

Nigerian governors who are found to have hijacked funds meant for the local governments in their respective states would be made to face trial at the end of their tenures, the presidency has warned.

Daily Trust reports that the presidency issued the warning on Wednesday, January 15, adding that by the time such governors end their tenures, their immunity would have expired. 

Issuing the warning, Ita Enang, senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta affairs, urged the accountant-general of the federation as well as the attorney-general of the federation to ensure strict monitoring of how funds allocated to the states are spent. This, he said, must be done to rescue government at the grassroots. 

Enang's spokesperson, Edet Ekpenyong Etuk, released a statement quoting his principal as saying: 

“Let the governors know that they would be made to stand trial in accordance with the extant law when their immunity is eventually lifted." 

 He argued that many local government headquarters have been taken over by weeds with healthcare systems at the grassroots not functioning with workers refusing to do their beats yet receiving salaries. 

Some of these former office holders include Jolly Nyame of Taraba, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who headed the ministry of petroleum in the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.