The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
uncovered $12.9billion more arms deals fraud during the administration of
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; it was learnt yesterday.
The development has brought arms funds, which were diverted
to other uses, to $15billion as the initial probe covered only $2.1billion.
As part of the ongoing investigation of the arms deals, the
EFCC yesterday froze an account with $500million. The owner of the account was
not immediately known.
The anti-graft commission has seized houses from a former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Besides, a wrist watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold
and diamond have been confiscated from Mrs. Alison-Madueke, a source said.
These details are contained in an update on the ongoing
investigation of the arms deals by the Office of the National Security Adviser
(ONSA) under the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
There are indications that many military officers may be
questioned.
A source, who spoke in confidence on the investigation,
said: “From our findings so far, the amount involved in the arms deals was over
$15billion. The $2.1billion which you have written so much about is just one
transaction into an account in the First Bank of Nigeria in New York.
“They moved the money into the FBN account from where they
were disbursing and re-routing the cash. Our priority is to recover these
funds, but we will still prosecute the individuals and companies involved.
“Most of these companies were incorporated by serving
military officers, and these officers were the sole signatories into the
accounts of these companies.
“All these suspects are not showing remorse, they think that
they can go away with the fraud, but we won’t allow them.
“Yet when we interrogate them, you see them wearing pampers
and cannot stand or walk in public for a long time. Then, you are tempted to
ask why they have to steal all these funds meant for public projects.
“The Trauma Centre at the National Hospital with a helipad
was built with N1.8billion; you can imagine how many of such centres and
schools these looted funds can provide.”
The source also explained that the
EFCC yesterday intercepted about $500million in an account and
blocked it.
The source added: “Just some few hours ago, our
investigators today (Tuesday) blocked an account with about $500million. We are
already looking at all clues on how the cash was wired.
“What we have recovered in just one year is more than the
total recovery by the EFCC since inception. There was huge looting which will affect
the coming generation if the funds are not recovered.”
The source gave insights into the probe of a former Minister
of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and businessman Jide
Omokore.
”We have seized many houses belonging to Diezani and Omokore
on Banana Island and other places. Also, a wristwatch of about £1.4million was
seized from Omokore’s wife.
“From the former minister, we have retrieved a choice wrist
watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold and diamond. We will soon show Nigerians
all these items for them to appreciate what we have done and to learn some
lessons.”
He explained that at the time the wrist watches were seized,
the price tags were there.
EFCC seizes N2.6b MRI machine from ex-Chief of Air Staff
Amosu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
seized a N2.6billion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine from the
Diagnostic Centre owned by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola
Amosu.
The anti-graft agency discovered that the MRI machine was
bought with some of the funds meant for arms purchase.
The investigators claimed that while Amosu’s Diagnostic
Centre has MRI equipment, none of the Air Force clinics nationwide could boast
of such a state-of-the-art equipment.
Also, there were indications last night that a former Chief
of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh may automatically forfeit
the controversial $1million(N318m) found in his house to the Federal
Government.
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned
ownership of the money.
According to EFCC investigation, some of the arms
funds allegedly diverted by Amosu, were used to buy the MRI machine for the
Diagnostic Centre.
MRI is a non-invasive medical test that physicians use to
diagnose and treat medical conditions.
It was learnt that the centre might be confiscated by the
government.
A top source in the EFCC said: “After thorough
investigations, we have seized an MRI equipment of about N2.6billion from
Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre. We were able to trace the purchase of the machine to
some of the diverted funds meant for procurement of arms.
“We may also place the centre under temporary asset
forfeiture pending the conclusion of the trial of the suspect. All these assets
are apart from the N2.3billion, houses, $140,000 and N381m recovered from
Amosu’s wife.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The ex-Chief of
Air Staff is still under investigation along with some military officers. We
have not cleared him.”
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh may
automatically forfeit the controversial $1million(N318m) found in
his house to the Federal Government.
The EFCC source said: "We retrieved the cash from Badeh’s
residence in Maitama District of Abuja, and the operation was witnessed by his
neighbours.
"Now that he has denied having such, the cash will be
automatically forfeited to the Federal Government."
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned
claims that the money was recovered from his home.
Zibri said: "Our attention has been drawn to a publication
of March 7th, 2016 to the effect that the sum of $1,000,000(One Million US
Dollars) cash was recovered in the house of Air Chief Marshal A.S Badeh (Rtd).
The said publication is not only malicious but wicked.
"It is totally false and smacks of a media campaign of
calumny against the person of Air Marshal Alex. Badeh (Rtd) The ten (10)
count charge against our client along with the proof of evidence in the Federal
High Court are public documents and can be accessed by the general public.
"There is no such allegation, and we challenge the faceless
EFCC official to substantiate his claim. The Trial has commenced and as a law
abiding citizen our client will defend himself in accordance with the law."
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