The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to interrogate some former governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over disbursements of monies to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
EFCC is looking for clarifications on the method for the release of funds to the NSA from some former CBN governors that included the former acting governor Mrs. Sarah Alade and the current governor of the bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
This is coming as more documents on the release of funds to various contractors by the central bank through the account of the NSA are emerging.
Some documents made available to Daily Trust over the weekend revealed that about N8 billion was released by the CBN to some contractors via the directive of the former NSA Sambo Dasuki.
The payment schedules made available to were all addressed to the Branch Controller, CBN, Abuja Branch gave directives such as “please credit the account of the under-listed beneficiaries and debit our account number above with the sum of nine hundred and seventy million naira only. All due process complied with.”
Among the top beneficiaries of some of the released funds by the NSA were Dalhatu Investment Ltd, a company owned by Attahiru Daltahu Bafarawa who benefited from N2.8 billion released in 10 batches between April, 2015 and May, 2015 and Daar Investment and Holding Company Ltd, with N500m.
Although, the schedule didn’t provide much details of the contracts rather than “supply of security equipment” in the case of Dalhatu Investment and “payment for media campaign” in the case of Daar Investment and Holding Company Ltd.
The amount was also released in round figures such as N300m, N50m, N200m, N500m, N200m, N600m, N300m,N300m, N300m, and N100m in favour of Dalhatu Investment Ltd.
The anti-graft source said the agency was poring through CBN documents trying to itemize cash releases to the ONSA under the leadership of Sambo Dasuki.
Already operatives of the EFCC have initiated talks with Emefiele and Alade to explain the lack of proper documentation and due process in the release of funds to the ONSA.
A source said: “One major problem with this investigation is that the NSA Office does not have the traditional documentation pattern for government offices. By that I mean, there are no files showing what the funds were released for.”
“That is why those investigating are looking up to the CBN to show how the funds are released,” it added.
The source also said; “this type of investigation, you talk to as many people as possible. You know that these funds were released under the Jonathan Administration which had three people presiding over the CBN. All these people will make explanations.”
It explained that: “Requests have been made to the CBN and they have been responding; most of those arrested were picked with evidences of releases from the CBN.
Meanwhile the Bureau of Public Procurement, an agency recognised by law to provide certificate of no objection for the settlement of the contractors said they are not aware of such deal.
Mr Thomas Odemwingie, Head of Media of BPP when contacted said the agency was not in the picture of the said contracts for the arm purchase deal.
Also, Dasuki and nine other accused persons are expected to be arraigned today before an FCT High Court over alleged diversion of funds meant for arms.
Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf on Friday granted an application for leave to prefer charges against the accused persons brought by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacob (SAN).
Beside the 19 count charge, the separate 22 counts charge, which is before Justice Peter Affen in the same court, is also expected to begin today.
Those to be arraigned with Dasuki are: Shuaibu Salisu, a former director of finance in his office, Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former Group Executive Director of NNPC; Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Hospital Ltd.
Waripamowei Dudafa, a former senior special assistant (domestic affairs) to President Jonathan is said to be at large.
Others are former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son Sagir Attahiru; former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda; Dalhatu Investment Ltd.
In the 19 counts charge, Dasuki is being accused of extra-budgetary spending to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion in foreign currency component.
Also, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja will today rule on the bail application by founder of Daar Communications and Holdings Ltd, Raymond Dokpesi.
The followed an objection to the application by the EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacob (SAN) citing the probe of fresh N8.4 billion TV rights allegedly received by Dokpesi for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria in January 2012.
While objecting to the bail, Jacobs told the court that Nigeria was not a party to the TV contract between Daar and FIFA, yet Dokpesi collected the “huge sum from the country’s treasury.”
Dokpesi was on Wednesday arraigned on a six counts charge of receiving the sum of N2.1 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) for media coverage for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between October 2014 and March 19, 2015.
