EFCC probes how $500m Abacha loot reportedly went missing
- The EFCC states that the sum of $250m from Abacha loot was illegally withdrawn barely two months to the end of Jonathan’s administration in 2015
- A source at the anti-graft agency says former minister of finance, Okonjo-Iweala, needs to make clarifications on the legality of the withdrawal of the $250m
- EFCC reveals why former secretary to the government of the federation Anyim Pius Anyim was accused of corruption
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun an investigation to uncover how over the sum of $500 million recovered from the late Gen Sani Abacha’s family was diverted.
The cash was repatriated from slush accounts of Abacha in foreign banks after hard negotiations by the federal government during the Jonathan administration.
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The Nation reports that operatives of the EFCC have discovered that the $500million was diverted.
The newspaper states that of the $500 million, about $250 million was released to the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) during the tenure of Col. Sambo Dasuki without appropriation while balance of $250 million cannot be traced yet.
The sum of $250 million was reported to have been illegally withdrawn barely two months to the end of Jonathan’s administration in 2015, according to a fact-sheet on the investigation.
In the fact-sheet, the ONSA in a memo of January 12, 2015, asked the former coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to transfer $300million.
The memo said: “Please refer to our meeting on recovered funds. You are pleased requested to remit the sum of $300m and £5.5m to the following account being ONSA share as agreed. Account name: CBN (NSA Foreign Operation; Account number: -100367-USD-CABANK30"
"Bank; Address: 28, Finsbury Circus, London. Please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.”
Okonjo-Iweala, in a memo to Dr Goodluck Jonathan, requested for $300m from the Abacha loot.
Only $250million was released to the ex-NSA.
An EFCC source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity said: “We will need to interact with the former Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala, to guide us on the contents of her letter, especially on the legality of the withdrawal of the $250million.
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“We will find out what she meant by to ‘borrow these funds’ and these ‘funds form part of projected FG Independent Revenue to be appropriated.’ She should assist investigators on whether or not the ex-NSA accounted to Jonathan for the ‘utilization of the funds."
Meanwhile EFCC explained why former secretary to the government of the federation Anyim Pius Anyim was accused of collecting N575 million for special service.
The Nation reports that EFCC’s investigation indicated that about N575m was paid to the ex-SGF from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The cash, according to commission came from the ONSA. A fact-sheet showed the details of how ONSA related with the ex-SGF.
The EFCC stages walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV:
Source: Legit.ng
