As the Department of State Service, DSS, continues the screening of some ministerial nominees, indications emerged at the weekend that three immediate past governors, Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Ameachi and Kayode Fayemi, have allegedly failed to pass the President’s anti-corruption test.
A highly placed security source at the weekend told Nigerian Pilot Sunday that the DSS did not clear three ministerial nominees, who are former governors, based on allegations of corruption brought against them before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC.
According to the source, the security agency allegedly refused to clear the three former governors based on a series of petitions written against them over allegations bordering on money laundering, fraud and embezzlement.
The source further added that when the three affected former governors appeared before the DSS screening committee, they were confronted with the petitions and other relevant documents attached to the petitions.
The source further added that they have received instructions from the President that any of the nominees with any damaging and fraud related issues should not be cleared by the security agency.
Meanwhile, also on the list of those who were said to have been screened by the DSS are, former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, Femi Falana (SAN), a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former finance commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Wale Edun and Former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Limited, Mr. Festus Odimegwu.
Other in the list are, Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Chief of Army, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazu (retd.); an former chief executive of the Federal Inland Revenue, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru;
Vanguard also gathered from a source very close to the presidency, who pleaded anonymity that the aforementioned nominees had appeared before the DSS for their screening at the weekend.
However, the nominees are yet to give any confirmation on the supposed screening which may not be far-fetched from the fact that appointments of this nature are treated cautiously in the official circle.
It was gathered that no fewer than 20 nominees had been so far screened by the DSS operatives since the exercise started.
It coule be recalled that the President had indicated in a chat with journalists in Accra, Ghana, on Monday that he would keep his promise of announcing names of his ministers this month.
The source also revealed to Vanguard, that the screening process by the DSS involved conducting background checks on the careers of the nominees and operatives were also checking for records of the nominees with anti-graft and security agencies.
Culled from Nigeria Pilot and Vanguard News
