/$30,000) each. Others are Bello Sarkin Yaki (N200m); BAM Properties(N300m); Dalhatu Investment Limited(N1.5billion); Tony Anenih (N260m); and Iyorchia Ayu’s company ( N345m) Investigation revealed that some former and serving members of the House of Representatives got N380million public funds to campaign for re-election.The sum was allegedly transferred to Belsha Nigeria Limited’s bank account controlled by Bello Matanwalle for distribution to support some members of the House of Representatives for their re-election campaigns.The beneficiary Reps allegedly collected sums ranging between N10million and N50million.The Nation gathered that the N380million was not only the slush fund made available to the Reps seeking re-election.Some of them, sources familiar with the disbursement said yesterday, got their share directly from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).In one of the payment mandates, Ref. No: ACCT/87/VOL.3/72 which was sent to the Branch Manager of Zenith Bank, K. City Plaza Branch, Wuse II Abuja, a new member of the House was given N50million through GTB Account 0022471014 while a ranking member smiled home with N150million remitted into UBA account 1007130385.Yet, another Representative got his share through UBA account 1014721695 for N50million.The EFCC has already retrieved more payment vouchers involving some members of the House.It was learnt that the list might soon be out detailing how the affected Representatives.A top source in the anti-graft agency said: “As we go into the trial of some accused persons, our ultimate goal is to retrieve looted funds. We will certainly ask most of these beneficiaries to refund the public funds illegally disbursed to them.“We are eager to collect the funds back in order to channel them into the development of the nation.“Some of these bigwigs have been making overtures to the EFCC to allow them to make refund instead of being put on trial.“As President Muhammadu Buhari said, we will publish the list of those who may make refunds.“A few of them will serve as our witnesses in court against accused persons.“But we are looking for some of them who were invited but managed to sneak out of the country.“Whatever the case and wherever they are hiding, we will bring them to justice.”Meanwhile, fresh facts emerged last night on how some of the PDP leaders benefitted from the slush funds.A former presidential aide, who was an insider, said: “Actually, most of the party leaders were always going to the former President Goodluck Jonathan for assistance in preparation for the 2015 poll. The usual refrain of Jonathan was ‘leave your account details with my aide’ and after some days, they got alert without cross checking where the money came from.“The ex-president would thereafter send the bank details and instructions to the former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki to disburse from the security votes and other funds in ONSA.“I think he might have given verbal instructions in most cases but there is sufficient evidence of a few requests forwarded to the ex-NSA from the Villa.”Asked why the ONSA was saddled with the responsibility of disbursement of funds, the source said, “the ONSA used to manage the president’s security votes, operation and maintenance of the Presidential Fleet and other exigencies including special welfare of ex-Presidents/ Heads of State.“The ex-NSA got involved because Jonathan discovered that each time he directed that funds be disbursed, most beneficiaries were not getting the cash. He had trust in the ex-NSA and decided to saddle him with the responsibility.”Responding to a question, the source said: “Some members of the PDP Contact and Mobilization Committee got their share directly from a former National Chairman of the party, Alh. Adamu Muazu at his residence.“Some of these funds given to Muazu came from the former Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda.“Yuguda also became part of the disbursement because of the trust reposed in him by the former First Family. In fact, Yuguda got his appointment at the behest of the ex-First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.“The former First Lady’s path crossed with Yuguda when the latter was Nigeria’s Ambassador to UAE.“For always hosting Mrs. Jonathan very well in Dubai, she spotted him as a responsible diplomat and pushed through in making him a Minister. When campaign funds were being mismanaged, the Jonathan opted for Yuguda too because of the ‘trust’ he had in him. “Old friendship and loyalty made Yuguda to be part of this scandal rocking the nation.”In a Statement of Witness/ Caution which he wrote on oath, Yuguda admitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he gave N600million cash to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilization Committees of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for the 2015 general Election.
No comments:
Post a Comment