Senior politicians and businessmen are among more than 100 people listed by Nigerian anti-fraud police as being unsuitable to run for political office, BBC online reports Monday.
The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) said those on the list were all being prosecuted for corruption. The commission urged political parties not to endorse them as candidates in next year’s elections.
One of those named, Orji Kalu, is running for president but has been arraigned (havnet i retten) on 107 counts of fraud. He is accused of involvement in a fraud worth 5 billion naira (33 million US dollar).
Politicians make up at least 40 people on the list, which the EFCC has published on its website.
Thirteen are former state governors, five are former ministers, three are serving MPs, and two are serving senators.
Fraud charges are no barrier to stan-ding in elections, and some of those named are already campaigning. But EFCC believe that those facing prosecution should not be endorsed as candidates.
