Several posts on Facebook claim that the governor of Nigeria’s River state Siminalayi Fubara is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud.
One post, dated 14 May 2024, reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared the Rivers State Accountant-General, Fubara Siminayi, and 58 others wanted for N435 billion fraud. Wikes camp shared this last night after Sim announced officially that Wikes administration will be probed.”
The EFCC is responsible for investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes such as fraud, money laundering and corruption.
Nyesom Wike is the minister of the federal capital territory, Abuja. He served as Rivers state governor from 2015 to 2023.
Wike and Fubara are embroiled in a rift that has been widely reported in the Nigerian media, with some suggesting it is over control of state affairs.
In May 2024, Wike said he had made a mistake by endorsing Fubara to succeed him as governor of Rivers.
Fubara then announced that he would set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the management of the state’s resources and affairs under past governors, including Wike.
The same claim can also be found here and here. (Note: See more instances of the claim at the end of the report.)
But is Fubara wanted by the EFCC in 2024, as the posts suggest? We checked.
