EFCC grills ex-ambassador, ex-governor, 4 others for allegedly sharing N1.150bn

dimeji akinloye

May 26, 2016 6:10 PM

They are being investigated for their role in the sharing of about N1.150 billion allocated to their states, out of the N23.29 billion election campaign funds disbursed by Diezani.

Former Petroleum Minister, Dieziani Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly probing Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador

They are being investigated for their role in the sharing of about N1.150 billion allocated to their states, out of the N23.29 billion election campaign funds disbursed by the former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, through Fidelity Banks.

The others being grilled by the EFCC are a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya Danlami, a former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Mark Bako Useni, a former National Secretary of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Senator Sa’idu Umar Kumo, from Gombe State and the Chairman, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Chief Joel Madaki.

Each of the three states were said to have received N450 million from Fidelity Bank totaling N1.150 billion.

Report said Ikenya has refunded N2 million while Useni paid back N1 million.

The bribe was said to have been distributed to all the 36 state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.

READ: EFCC recovers N6.66bn from N23.3bn campaign funds 'shared' by Diezani

According to the online news portal, TODAY, which cited a top source at the EFCC, Senator Danladi Abubakar chaired "the sharing committee of the N450million campaign slush fund for the re-election of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan."

“Other members are Senator Ikenya and Hon. Useni," the source was quoted to have said.

Ikenya and Useni were alleged to have signed and collected the fund on behalf of the state PDP before proceeding to the Government House to share it.

“When interrogated, the two former office holders claimed they distributed the money to the 16 local government areas of the state. They gave N140million (at N28m each) to five local government areas and N264 million ( at N24m each) to the remaining local government areas.

“Useni admitted he collected Takum Local Government’s N24m.

“They confessed to have personally benefited individually from the fund. The former minister admitted to have taken N4million. He presented a GTB draft of N2million and promised another draft for the same amount today. His co-suspect deposited a draft for N1million and the balance to be paid later," the source said.

The EFCC said it has intensified its investigation with aim of recovering the funds from as many beneficiaries as possible.

On Gombe and Adamawa states, the source said: “Senator Kumo signed and collected N450million campaign fund for the re-election of former President Jonathan.

“He admitted that out of the said amount, he got only N2m which he promised to pay back."

The Adamawa PDP chairman, Madaki and Ambassador Adamu (Wakili Adamawa) allegedly signed and collected N450million campaign fund for Adamawa State.

In his statement Madaki admitted that out of the said amount, it was only N5 million that passed through his office, which he promised to pay back, report said.

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