Year in review: Scandals involving Nigerian politicians, public figures in 2020

Year in review: Scandals involving Nigerian politicians, public figures in 2020

Certainly, the record of 2020 in Nigeria will not be complete without at least a mention of some scandals that involved prominent politicians, lawmakers, and notable public officers who occupied sensitive positions.

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In its usual annual review, Legit.ng outlines some renowned persons whose names were linked with reports that a lot of persons may at worst deem as ugly and at best refer to as unpalatable.

Ibrahim Magu of EFCC

The suspected chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu was almost revered by many Nigerians as a morally upright leader until he was accused of misappropriation of recovered loot, embezzling and diversion of public funds.

The issue which came with a litany of other allegations was first taken up by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation until President Muhammadu Buhari had to intervene and set up a presidential inquiry panel presided over by Justice Ayo Salami.

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Femi Fani-Kayode

Although no more in public office, the name of the former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode popped up again when he verbally attacked a Daily Trust journalist after the reporter asked him who funds his tour to states.

Of course, this earned Fani-Kayode a lot of tongue-lashing from many Nigerians, including politicians, with some accusing him of lacking civility and scruple.

Governor David Umahi and Pius Anyim

As if the defection of the Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not raise enough eyebrows among stalwarts and bigwigs in the opposition, the Southeast defector made an allegation as to the underground work that led to his cross-carpeting.

Umahi, after his defection, claimed that the whole process was planned with the support of Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Senate president who is facing a lot of charges bordering on financial crimes.

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Still on Anyim, a former Ebonyi commissioner for investment and Abuja liaison, Ekumankama Nkama, who is standing as a surety for the ex-president of the Senate, was forced to rescind his decision.

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Nkama cited the Maina-Ndume fallout as what influenced his change of mind and told the EFFC that he is afraid that Anyim may conduct himself in a manner below what is expected of him and thus damage his reputation.

Year in review: Scandals involving Nigerian politicians, public figures in 2020
Magu, Umahi, FFK and Gbajabiamila are among notable names mentioned in 2020 scandals in Nigeria (Photo: The Crest)
Source: UGC

Femi Gbajabiamila

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, got indirectly involved in a tragic and rather negative report after a policeman attached to his convoy mistakenly killed a newspaper vendor in Abuja in November 2020.

According to Gbajabiamila's report after the incident, the officer shot in the air to disperse a crowd that gathered around his convoy as he stopped to exchange pleasantries with vendors outside the National Assembly complex.

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Although the speaker apologised to the bereaved family of the victim, he described the development on his Twitter page as a horrible incident.

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Source: Legit.ng

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