The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission made staggering discoveries in the process of investigating
the alleged fraud relating to the diversion of $2.1bn meant for
prosecution of the war against Boko Haram. The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday
that the EFCC had discovered that the total anti-insurgency money
diverted by various personalities and agencies was over $15bn.
The $2.1bn represents the arms cash
placed under the Office of the National Security Adviser, then headed by
the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). Ex-military chiefs, including a former
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.); and a former
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), had been quizzed
for their alleged roles in the arms scam. Badeh and Dasuki are currently standing trial on charges relating to the alleged fraud. A top source at the commission, who confided in The PUNCH
on Tuesday, said the EFCC and the presidential panel on arms
procurement, during investigations, discovered that $2.1bn fraud was
just for one of the several transactions. The source added that the commission
discovered that top military officers deliberately incorporated
companies to divert anti-insurgency funds for their personal uses. “We have discovered that the total money
in the arms scandal is over $15bn, not $1.2bn that was initially
discovered. The $2.1bn was just for one transaction. Many of these
military officers set up companies for the purpose of diverting money
meant for the prosecution of the anti-insurgency war,” he said.
CCT chair, Umar, not yet exonerated
On the allegations against the Code of
Conduct Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, the source explained that the
judge had not been totally exonerated. Umar was alleged to have demanded a N10m bribe from Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a former customs officer. The source in the commission stated that
the content of the letter the EFCC wrote to the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation on the matter was clear. The top source, who confided in The PUNCH,
said, “Facts are being distorted by those who are afraid of their
shadow. The letter, dated March 5, 2015, clearly explains that there was
no sufficient evidence at that time to prosecute the judge. It is not
an exoneration. The man (who wrote the letter) says there is no
sufficient evidence. The issue can come up again.”
£600,000 wristwatch seized from Diezani
£1.4m wristwatch seized from Omokore’s wife
One of our correspondents learnt that
the commission had seized expensive jewellery and wristwatches during
various raids on houses of some suspects on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos,
and other places. The source added that the items seized
from the suspects would be displayed to journalists in Nigeria while the
summit of 60 world leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari, would
take place on May 11 and 12 in the United Kingdom. The EFCC source added that a wristwatch
worth 1.4m pounds was seized from the wife of the Chairman of Atlantic
Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore. He stated that a wristwatch of about
£600,000 was seized from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, during a raid on her residence.The firm of Omokore, who was quizzed in
January by the commission, was one of the companies that allegedly
received multi-billion dollars worth of public assets without due
process from the Jonathan administration. The company, which was established in
2010, had reportedly not explored any oil when it was curiously awarded
controlling stakes in two lucrative oil blocks, OML 30 and 34, for just
over $50m each. The deal, which was signed by Jonathan’s
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, gave Atlantic
Energy Limited a controlling 55 per cent stake The former minister had been interrogated by the Metropolitan Police on issues relating to money laundering. The EFCC source said the commission had
started analysing information on Nigerians, including the President of
the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and others mentioned in the Panama Paper
leaks. It was gathered that the commission had
seized one hospital equipment known as MRI, Medical Resonance Image,
from Amosu. The equipment is worth N2.6bn. The EFCC had previously recovered over N2.3bn cash from Amosu, while properties worth over N1bn had been seized from him.
Commission working to extradite Obanikoro, Mu’azu
Besides suspects in Nigeria, it was learnt that the EFCC had begun moves to extradite those who had fled the country. The EFCC source added that the
commission was working with the United States’ Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the UK’s National Crimes Commission to bring back
those who were being investigated, including a former Minister of State
for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, and an ex-National Chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
“We are working with FBI and NCA and
they are eager to assist us. I can assure you that those people will be
brought back to Nigeria for interrogation,” the source said.
Copyright PUNCH.
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