EFCC's Latest Catch: 13 Things You Didn't Know About Former APC Chieftain, Tom Ikimi

Since the investigation into the diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency, more than 20 prominent politicians have been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Earlier today, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Chief Tom Ikimi who is an ex- Minister of Foreign Affairs to late Nigerian dictator, General Sanni Abacha, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his role in the arms fund saga.

 

According to an EFCC source, Ikimi had been grilled at their Abuja office over two days and allowed to go home each day after interrogation because of his health. The source who said Ikimi, who decamped from the APC to support former President, Goodluck Jonathan's bid for a second term, was involved in the $2.1billion arms funds scandal.

 

So far, more than 20 prominent politicians have been invited by the EFCC since the investigation into the diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration started.

 

It was gathered that only one person from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Lawal Ja’afaru Isa (rtd), has been arrested, the others are members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

 

Below are some things you need to know about Ikimi;

 

1. He was born on August 17, 1941 in Kumba-Southern, Cameroons to John Onile Ikimi and Victoria Isiemoa Ikimi.

 

2. He is from Igueben local government area, Edo state.

 

3. Education: Ikimi attended St. Joseph’s College Sasse-Buea, Southern Cameroons between 1957-1961. He got his technical education from January 1966 – December 1967 at the Midwestern Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo state, where he obtained Ordinary National Diploma in Building and Civil Engineering. He obtained a B. Arch (Hons) degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Architectural School, Zaria in 1973.

 

4. In 1995, Ikimi was appointed the minister of foreign affair during late Nigerian dictator General Sanni Abacha’s regime.

 

5. He was chairman of ECOWAS council of ministers and ECOWAS committee of Nine on Liberia(C-9) from 26 July 1996

 

6. Ikimi is married with three sons and a daughter.

 

7. He was the one who moved the motion in late 1970 at the NUNS convention in Zaria to readmit the Eastern Unions back into the NUNS at the end of the civil war.

 

8. Ikimi was a foundation member and member of Board of Trustees of All Peoples Party (APP) in 1999-2001.

 

9. He joined the PDP in 2001 and was chairman of the party’s national convention presidential election panel in January 2003.

 

10. He was the foundation member and national leader of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) 2005-2006.

 

11. He was foundation member and member of the national caucus Action Congress party. He led the party to win the governorship elections in Edo State in 2007.

 

12. Ikimi played a major role in the merger between major opposition parties, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to form the APC.

 

13. He left the APC in 2014 after he failed to emerge as the party chairman few months after its formation, to support former president, Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term.