INVESTIGATORS at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have stumbled on evidence that showed how prominent politicians, mostly from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allegedly shared N3.145billion in the build up to the last presidential elections.
Among the beneficiaries of the bazaar are a former Aviation Minister and Director of Media for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign organization, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae; a former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman; former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa; former minister of state for foreign affairs, Viola Onwuliri and Okey Ezenwa. A source at the anti-graft agency who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorized to speak, told Vanguard that the money was paid by the Central Bank Nigeria into the account of the Ministry of External Affairs Library, from where it was moved into the account of Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. The source added,
“It was from the Joint Dimension’s account with Zenith Bank that the money was shared to various individuals and organizations for purposes that are not stated.” Documents cited by this newspaper revealed that Fani-Kayode was the chief beneficiary of the disbursement as he allegedly received N840million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch account with No.1004735721. The first tranche of payment involving N350 million hit the account on February 19, 2015. Another N250milion was also paid into the account on February19, 2015 while N240million was similarly credited to the account a month later; precisely, March 19, 2015.
The source disclosed that the balance on this account as at December 31, 2015 was N189, 402.72 Next to Fani-Kayode in the order of beneficiaries of the heist, is Goodluck Support Group which allegedly received N320million. Similarly, Chief Falae allegedly received N100m through Marreco Limited, a company where he is Chairman. The fund was credited into the company’s United Bank for Africa Plc account No. 1000627022 on March 25, 2014. Both Achike Udenwa and Viola Onwuliri got N350million in two tranches.
The first tranche of N150million was paid into their joint account with Zenith bank on January 13, 2015. The second tranche of N200miilion has credited into their account with Diamond bank. Nenadi Usman took her own share of the booty through her Zenith Bank account no. 1000158311 on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna. A princely N36.9million was credited to her.
Coming at the rear is Okey Ezenwa who also pocketed N100million. The source discloses that detectives are racking their brains to decipher the motives for the bazaar. “But as things stand, the fact that most of the payments were made in the weeks preceding the last presidential elections leaves very little to the imagination”. Yet, one knotty question that confronts the investigators is the figure behind Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited, the account where the fund was warehoused before being wired to sundry beneficiaries. The shadowy figure could help unravel the mystery shrouding the payments, once the veil is lifted.
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Classic case of money laundry aimed at hiding the source and flow. NDLEA should be interested in this case. Most money laundry transactions involve illicit drug traffic. Its no brainer finding the person behind Joint trust dimensions ltd. Efcc should go to corporate affairs commission.