Immediate past Governor of Gombe State, who is a serving Senator in the National Assembly, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, yesterday reported at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, where he later detained over allegations of mismanagement and diversion of over N52 billion state funds.

His appearance yesterday, however, coincided with reports that the arraignment of the former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, by the EFCC may take place at the Federal High Court, Ibadan today.

Similarly, the anti-graft agency yesterday failed to file charges against the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, whose trial began yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta over an alleged N58 billion fraud.

However, reports yesterday said the commission’s operatives were as at press time still drilling Goje over allegation of mismanagement and diversion of over N52billion belonging to the state.

It was also gathered that Goje, who said he was not on the run, had claimed that the commission declared him wanted in error, as he had through his lawyers written the commission to inform them that he was out of the country. True to his promise, he reported to the commission yesterday, and was promptly detained.

An EFCC source told THISDAY in Abuja yesterday that Goje would be taken to Gombe, his state capital where he would be charged, after undergoing interrogation.

But sources close to the EFCC informed THISDAY that Daniel’s arraignment, which was expected to take place yesterday had to be put off due to the failure of the Agency to perfect the necessary papers concerning the case.

The charges against Akala and others, which bordered on money laundering, were expected to be filed at the Federal High Courts, while they were expected to face trial for alleged stealing at the state High Courts.

But newsmen and Akala loyalists, who had stormed the state High Court in the early hours of yesterday, were disappointed as neither the accused nor the prosecutor was sighted at the court.

The newsmen had difficult time locating the exact court where the former governor would be arraigned, as they had to navigate between the Federal High Court, Adeoyo, which was under lock and Key due to the Federal Judges Conference holding in Kano, the State High Court,Ring-Road and the State High Court, Iyanganku.

Newsmen up till after 4.30pm yesterday were still keeping vigil at the Federal High Court, Ring Road, awaiting the arrival of the EFCC officials, who were said to be coming from Lagos.

Security was, however, beefed up along the routes to both the High court as well as the Magistrate Court in Iyaganku as the roads leading to the court were cordoned off by armed mobile policemen.

Meanwhile, the premise of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta was filled to brim yesterday with friends and well wishers of Daniel, who had gathered at the court to witness the much anticipated trial. But the failure by EFCC to file the charges, however, created apprehension among the supporters.

There was also heavy security presence in and around the court premises as stern-looking mobile policemen and operatives of State Security Services (SSS) screened journalists and visitors before allowing entry.

It was,  gathered that the case could not hold due to the absence of Federal High Court judges, who were said to be attending the new 2011/2012 Legal Year Conference in Sokoto State, while a source at the court  said the trial was unlikely to begin without the presence of the judges.

However, loyalists of Daniel expressed optimism that the former governor would be vindicated at the end of his impending trial.

Those who spoke, including the Chairman, Neuropsychiatry Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Chief Iyabo Apampa; former Commi-ssioner for Education, Mr. Yemi Akinwonmi; former Chairman, Ifo Local Government Area, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, and a Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) stalwart, Alhaji Nurudeen Olaleye, extolled Daniel’s leadership qualities.

Apampa, who maintained that the allegations against Daniel were politically motivated, stated that the former governor was paying the price of leadership.

According to him: “I am here because of my solidarity with Daniel. We all know that the allegations against him are politically motivated. It is price of leadership that he’s paying but we are watching”, adding that the court should be allowed to adjudicate on his matter.

Akinwonmi, however, said certain reactionary people were bent on nailing Daniel due to political reasons, saying that Daniel’s political adversaries would be disappointed with the outcome of the trial.

Source: ThisDay/ Ike Abonyi in Abuja, Tunde Sanni in Ibadan and Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta