How Yar'Adua Was Removed From EFCC Corruption List - El-Rufai
By Wole Olujobi, Deputy News Editor, Lagos

Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, has revealed how the name of President Umaru Yar'Adua was removed from the corruption list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ahead of the Presidential nomination in 2007.

He also said Yar'Adua was one of the active participants trying to subvert the Constitution to pave the way for former President Olusegun Obasanjo's third term bid.

He wrote in an Internet-based forum that Yar'Adua's humble and austere personal lifestyle endeared him to many, and was not considered personally corrupt compared with other Governors.

El-Rufai recounted that when Nuhu Ribadu, the then EFCC Chairman, compiled the names of "corrupt Governors," Yar'Adua's was initially on the list, but Ribadu was persuaded by Aliyu Gusau (Obasanjo's National Security Adviser) to remove his name because "Umaru's corruption was not personal, and was productive relative to other venal Governors".

El-Rufai claimed that it was because of this omission that made some of them to support Yar'Adua for the Presidency.

http://www.independentngonline.com/news/tfpg/article03