The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told politicians who took part in the alleged sharing of $2.1billion arms procurement funds to return what they got or be dragged before court.
According to sources in the EFCC, the commission is taking this option because it’s investigators discovered that there was no where in the correspondences between the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and former President Goodluck Jonathan that suggested that the monies should be used to fund the then ruling party or for the 2015 general elections.
EFCC investigators are therefore working with the theory that the monies were just recklessly shared to cronies.
Some of the beneficiaries who must return cash or face court include former governors Peter Odili (N100m); Rashidi Ladoja (N100m), Attahiru Bafarawa (N100m), Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi (N100m), and Jim Nwobodo (N500m).
Others are: Chief Tony Anenih(N260m); ex-PDP National Chairman Ahmadu Ali(N100m); Chief Bode George (N100m/ $30,000), Yerima Abdullahi (N100m); Chief Olu Falae (N100m); Tanko Yakassai (N63m); Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki(N200m); Raymond Dokpesi, Iyorchia Ayu’s company(N345m); BAM Properties(N300m); Dalhatu Investment Limited(N1.5b); ex-PDP National Chairman Mohammed Bello Haliru, Abba Mohammed, Sagir Attahiru, serving and former members of the House of Representatives(over N600 million); former Chairman of the House of Representatives on Security and Intelligence, Bello Matawalle(N300m); ACACIA Holdings(N600m); Bashir Yuguda (N1,950,000) and many companies.
The EFCC is therefore insisting that all those implicated so far must refund the “illegal disbursement” of cash to them or face prosecution.
“There was never a memo for cash advance for political matters like campaign or election. We have also traced some of these funds directly to the accounts of these bigwigs or their proxy companies.
“Having gone far, we are asking them to return these funds or else, we will go after them any moment from now. I think they should respect themselves and make urgent refund.
“In the alternative, we will arrest them and arraign them in court to defend such strange allocations.
“We will retrieve every kobo given out from ONSA. It is insufficient to say somebody gave me this money. Once we trace undeserved public funds into your account or phony and proxy companies, we will ask for refund,” a top source in the commission said.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisah Metuh has reportedly admitted the transfer of N400 million by ONSA into a company in which he has substantial interest.
Metuh was arrested last week by EFCC in connection with the ongoing probe and has since been in the commission’s custody.
They must return our yam.