N23bn Election Bribe: EFCC Traces N15bn to Jonathan’s Ministers, Others; 14 Directors of Oil Firms Fingered

N23bn Election Bribe: EFCC Traces N15bn to Jonathan’s Ministers, Others; 14 Directors of Oil Firms Fingered

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to have now traced a total sum of about N15 billion out of N23.29 billion ($115m) believed to have been involved in an election bribery scheme allegedly facilitated by former oil minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

 

The sum was allegedly deposited in some major commercial banks and offered as bribe by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to influence the 2015 elections in favour of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Nation reports that the anti-graft agency has now traced the sum of N500 million to former minister of state for foreign affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad while N950 million was traced to former minister for foreign affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.

Both former ministers have been detained by the EFCC and were said to be pleading to be released on bail as of Saturday night.

The EFCC has also identified fourteen directors of four oil firms suspected of substantially bankrolling the N23.29bn election bribery scheme. The directors were identified with the assistance of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the regulatory body for companies and other corporate organisations in Nigeria.

A source within the EFCC is said to have hinted the newspaper that some other persons have been linked to the bribery scandal including the chairman of the Cross River state PDP chapter, to whom the sum of N500m was traced. About N5 billion was also traced to PDP chieftains in seven states in the North-West geopolitical zone.

Other names that have cropped up during investigation include Mr Sani Isa, a retired INEC staff (N406.2m); Mr Leno Adesanya, an oil magnate ($1.85m); Senator Christiana Anyanwu and Mike Ahamba (N700m), among others.

Senator Anyanwu has however denied her involvement in the bribery scheme. She told Vanguard that while she was indeed appointed to oversee Jonathan’s campaign in Imo state, she was sidelined in the disbursement of campaign funds.

ENJOY FREE CONTENTS FROM US
IN YOUR EMAIL

Breaking News, Events, Music & More

ENJOY FREE CONTENTS FROM US
IN YOUR EMAIL

Breaking News, Events, Music & More