EFCC recovers $117,000 cash from ex-Air Chief Amosu’s Lagos home

dimeji akinloye

February 18, 2016 6:11 PM

Amosu is one of the retired military chiefs being investigated by the anti-graft agency in connection with the alleged misappropriation of the $2.1 billion arms purchase fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that it seized $117,000 cash from the Lagos home of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal

This was stated by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, yesterday, February 17, on the sideline of the meeting between the EFCC and a coalition of civil society groups, led by Olanrewaju Suraj, in Lagos.

Without giving further details, the EFCC Deputy Director of Operations, Iliyasu Kwarbai, also dislcosed that the Commission might have recovered around $5 million from “looters”.

READ: EFCC arrests wife of former Air Force boss, Amosu after finding N3bn in her accounts

Speaking to the civil rights groups, the EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu stressed that some senior lawyers are blocking the government’s anti-corruption war.

He said, “what is urgent now is to focus our attention on those areas which I consider as constituting stumbling blocks to successful prosecution of the war.

“While many lawyers have assisted the cause of the EFCC, there are a number of others that are working against efforts to tackle the Nigerian corruption problem.

“Many, including very senior lawyers, have continued to lend their skills and expertise to crooks to steal our money and, thereafter, help them to launder same. It’s time for us to say enough is enough.

“Since I assumed office three months ago, I have used every opportunity available to send the message that this fight is not for the EFCC alone.

“Other stakeholders must play crucial roles because the forces that we are trying to defeat are formidable and would spare no expense to ensure that we fail.

“In my estimation, one of the most important stakeholders in this crusade are the civil society organisations, because you are the conscience of the people.

“We must be bothered that our nation has been raped by politicians, who treat the treasury as their personal accounts.

“A nation where monies meant for the prosecution of the war against insurgency are shared by top military officers and their civilian accomplices.

“A country where roads, hospitals and other infrastructure are in appalling state of decay because the money that should have been used to improve them have been diverted into private pockets, is not the nation of our dreams.

“We have reached a state where we have to ask the crucial question, can we continue like this? No. Thankfully, we have elected a government that is sold on the fight against corruption.

“By the same token, these times call for vigilance by all in following cases of corruption under prosecution to ensure that we put everyone on their toes.

“This would ensure not only the speedy determination of such matters, but that there is fairness and equity in the process and outcomes.”

Yesterday, the Commission had also arrested Allison Amaechina Madueke, the husband to former Minister of petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, over money laundering. He was later released on administrative bail.

dimeji akinloye