The Nation Newspaper

Tag: loot

  • How BDCs assist politicians to loot, by Magu

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu revealed yesterday how Bureau de Change (BDC) operators aid corrupt practices of some politicians.

    Speaking at a meeting with the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) in Abuja, Magu said: “These politicians transfer looted funds from government accounts to BDC’s accounts; in 10, 20 millions in about 75 transactions in one day.

    “This is done with only paper work, no physical cash.

    “The BDC operators now take the money to the politician’s village and also buy properties for them in and outside the country.

    “They help clean up dirty money. When we start prosecuting them in every zone, others will sit up.

    “We all have the responsibility to clean this country. We must always do the right thing.

    ”We shall go to the airports and border points and deal with those who help these thieves,” the chairman said.

    He was quoted in a statement by Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Tony Orilade.

    Magu warned that the agency would prosecute operators and bankers who failed to comply with laws guiding the financial regulating system.

    Acting President of the Association, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, commended the EFCC chairman for his determination in the fight against corruption in the country.

    He gave the assurance that about 5000 licenced members of the association were ready to collaborate with the commission in the fight against corruption.

    He said that the problem had always been with the unlicenced members of the association who were ready to cut corners and bend the rules of the game.

    “In Abuja alone, we have over 100,000 unregistered BDC operators.

    “These are the people giving us the bad name. We would need the EFCC to partner with us in sanitising the association,” he said.

  • A woman can steal better

    A woman can steal better

    Since August 18 when ‘Wetin Diezani steal self?’ appeared on this space, more revelations have been made on Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke. It seems there is no end to the Diezani loot. The latest forfeiture of N7.6b and some other discoveries abroad have made me agree with a school of thought which believes that what a man can steal, a woman can steal better.

    Diezani has so dazed me that I feel like sharing my August 18 offering as I wish you all happy ed-il-fitri celebration.

     

    Her story ordinarily should be a simple one. Brilliant and beautiful. Good upbringing, good education, good jobs and the best of political appointments available. Educated in some of the best schools in the world. Rich and famous.

    But hers has become a complex story. A tale of claims and counter-claims. Welcome to the world of Diezani Alison-Madueke, until May 29, 2015 Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources.

    When she admitted battling cancer, not a few screamed ‘gimmick’. Between then and now, it has been one scary revelation of sleaze after another. Some samples:  A block of six units serviced apartments at number 135, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. 21 mixed housing units of eight 4-bedroom apartments, two penthouse apartments of  3-bedrooms each and six 3-bedroom (all en-suite) terrace apartments in Yaba. A twin four-bedroom duplex in Lekki Phase one. And a penthouse on the 11th Floor in the Block B Wing of the building.

    There are also a large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos and a duplex  at 10, Frederick Chiluba Close, in the serene, upscale Asokoro District of Abuja. Those are not all. There are  a 6-bedroom en-suite apartment Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja and 16 four bedroom terrace duplexes at No. Heritage Court Estate, located on Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu Government Residential Area, Phase 1 Extension, Port Harcourt. And more. And more.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has so far traced N47.2 billion and $487.5million to the ex-minister. The agency says Diezani has N23, 446,300,000 and $5milion (about N1.5billion) in various Nigerian banks. There is also a $37.5million Banana Island property, which has been taken over by the Federal Government. She denies knowledge of this proprty, which investigators said was bought using a proxy.

    And because of these revelations, not a few are calling for her head. But I beg to disagree. I do not have the facts that the EFCC has, but let us assume that Madam actually took this money.

    I dare say the money in her care as oil minister came from the Niger Delta. She is from Niger Delta, a true son of Bayelsa, which contributes a lot of the oil cash. So, she has simply taken what belongs to her. No wonder some of her people are asking: ‘Wetin Diezani steal self?’

    You need to see what Madam’s people are facing in the creeks for you to appreciate my argument. On my stops in Bayelsa and other parts of the Niger Delta, I see poverty, see degradation, see rejection and see desperation.

    There are houses, made of wood, covered with palm front, which the owners must change from time to time as they wither away. There are imageries of luxury here and there, but in short supply. It is something many hear about and see when the rich choose to throw their weight about. So many children could not go to school.

    In some parts of the Niger Delta, they never see night. The multinational operating in these areas have their flow stations so close to homes and send out gas flares throughout the day. So, the only way to differentiate between night and day is to check their wrist watches.

    In many towns, oil pipelines are not underground. They are in the open. And often they burst or are burst and our soils and existence are damaged in the process.

    The people have shouted, protested and threatened violence over their fate, yet change has refused to come. It is as if the multinational also has another licence: to send them all to their early graves so that their leaders can have all the wealth for themselves, including the little they manage to spend on basic amenities. This environmental genocide, as some have called it, is having serious effects on the people. Strange diseases are killing the people. Pregnant women are developing strange allergies. Yet, health centres are ill-equipped to take care of their health needs. They have several people with aggravated asthma; there are increases in respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and difficult or painful breathing, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Premature death is not uncommon.

    The truth is, the oil majors are more interested in the oil than in the people’s well-being. They can die for all they care. Oil is more important than man; that is their mantra.

    Agriculture, which has the potential to help our country, has no breathing space in the Niger Delta. The soils are polluted and where they are not, the people are not properly motivated. Everybody is just waiting for handout.

    The imageries I just painted are of Madam’s Niger Delta, yet the oil with which Nigeria is powered comes from there. This fact must have affected Madam and ensured she wasted not the opportunity to grab as much as possible for herself and her people. A bird told me that Madam actually planned to empower her people using the money she was taking on their behalf, but ill-health and witch-hunting from the present administration has made her unable to help lift her people out of poverty.

    Another thing that pains me in how Madam’s matter has been handled concerns America’s involvement. The other day they came out with a fact sheet, alleging all kinds of things against our own darling Diezani. They even claim to have the recording of a telephone conversation in which Madam was warning one of her partners not to live extravagant lifestyle so as not to give himself away as a common thief. They claimed she said she would not go down alone.

    Na wa for these Americans. Even the United Kingdom is also giving her hassles, asking her questions about money that is not their own. The money is Niger Delta’s money, not even Nigeria’s. The woman who has allegedly taken only a fraction of the money taken from her backyard should not be vilified. This vilification is bad, especially the foreign angle. Somebody should explain to these oyinbos that Madam has only taken what belongs to her.

    My final take: Diezani should file a case of violation of fundamental human rights against Nigeria, Britain and the United States at The Hague. Human rights as excuses for all sorts of things work very well abroad. She should provide them evidence that the oil cash she is accused of taking came from proceeds of oil taken from her backyard. I suggest that she should see ‘Invasion 1897’ by Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun, where the lead actor was able to argue that a Benin bronze head he attempted to steal from the British Museum actually belonged to him by virtue of his origin as a Benin man. He argued that the British stole it during the invasion and he only came to retrieve it. And he was freed.

    So, she should claim that Nigeria, through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and their joint venture partners, stole the crude oil in her Niger Delta and thus deprived her and her people of the proceeds.  Freedom will sure knock at her door.

     

  • How to utilise recovered loot, by SSANU

    How to utilise recovered loot, by SSANU

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to inject recovered loot  into the economy to create jobs.

    It appealed to workers to unite against poverty, deprivation and exploitation by the elite and the ruling class.

    The association, in a communiqué signed by its National President, Samson Ugwoke, and  National Public Relations Officer, Salaam Abdussobur, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said the country would gain more by staying together than disintegrating.

    SSANU bemoaned the precarious and pitiable condition of workers in the face of the present economic realities and urged government to take proactive measures to end hardship and suffering in the country.

    “NEC noted that the costs of food items and basic commodities are beyond the reach of the average Nigerian worker, while building materials have become so costly that the common man can no longer afford a decent home,” the union said.

    It also urged the Federal Government to plough back recovered funds into the economy to exit recession.

    “NEC advises the government to announce the huge sums of money so far recovered from looters and immediately plough back these huge amounts into the economy, as saving these money while Nigerians starve makes no meaning.

    “This will give verve to government’s transparency and accountability, especially in the fight against corruption,” it added.

    It called on the government to introduce policies that would attract investors and prevent oligopolies in the food and building industries to protect the masses from exploitation.

    SSANU decried the delay in the negotiation of the minimum wage and urged government to speed up the process.

    It also urged government to urgently implement the earned allowance owed its members, saying, “NEC in session demands implementation of the payment of earned allowances being owed members of SSANU arising from the SSANU/FGN 2009 Agreement as the continued delay is a breach of a Collective Bargaining Agreement and a dishonourable act on the part of government.”

    SSANU bemoaned the sack of its branch chairman  and secretary of the union at the University of Abuja.

    “NEC noted with dismay and shock, the breaches and administrative infractions perpetrated by the authorities at the University of Abuja, leading to the suspension and termination of appointments of the Branch Chairman and Secretary of SSANU at the university.

    “NEC noted that the process leading to these actions were un-procedural, unlawful and unconstitutional. NEC, therefore, urges the Minister of Education to prevail on the Governing Council of the university to immediately recall our illegally terminated officers to avert a national industrial crisis,” it stated.

    SSANU also decried the abandonment of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) owned by Oyo and Osun states, saying the action of the two state governments was jeopardising the careers of its members, students and other members of the university community.

  • Reps committee alleges pressure over $43m Osborne loot’s probe

    External pressure is allegedly being mounted on the House of Representatives over its investigation of the $43 million discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, it was gathered at the weekend.

    Though money inducement has not taken place, threats and persuasion through text messages and physical contacts have been employed to sway the course and outcome of the investigation.

    The Committee on National Security and Intelligence handling the matter has, however, assured that the investigation was in the interest of preserving the integrity of the nation’s institutions.

    Its chairman, Sani Jaji, after his committee meeting with EFCC Acting Chairman Idris Magu on Friday said Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele is next to appear before the committee.

    Jaji said a lot of ground has been covered but pressure on the committee has been immense.

    He, however, said the committee would not be intimidated.

    He said: “There have been attempts on me as the chairman of the committee and members of the committee on what direction the investigation should take and the possible outcome of our report.

    “There has been a lot of frustration but this has not in any way affected us because we remain committed to our cause.

    “There is no monetary inducement though, but these pressures are in form of text messages and physical contacts about what we should do, what we should not do, that we should dwell on this and not on that.

    “They said this or that agency has a reputation that should not be put on the line, and so we should not go beyond certain extent. But we tell them that our determination is to safeguard the name and integrity of our institutions.”

  • Fed Govt seeks removal of obstacles to loot recovery

    The Federal Government and other stakeholders have called for the removal of obstacles to the recovery of looted funds from foreign countries.

    They want those who facilitate illicit financial flows (IFF) to be held accountable, as well as an end to international tax evasion and trade mis-invoicing.

    Countries holding monies looted from Nigeria were also urged to simplify their legal procedures that make recovery difficult.

    These were part of the “Abuja Declaration on promoting international cooperation to combat IFF and  enhancing asset recovery (AR) to foster sustainable development” made at the end of a three-day conference held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

    The Conference tagged ‘Abuja IFF/AR’ was organised by the Federal Government through the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), the ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, in partnership with some development partners, such as the Government of the Kingdom of Norway.

    Participants included government officials, experts, lawyers, lawmakers, business executives drawn from Africa and other parts of the world, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, regional bodies, intergovernmental organisations, United Nations agencies, among others.

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo opened the conference; ministers of finance and foreign affairs Kemi Adeosun and Geoffrey Onyeama, as well as Attorney-General of the Federation Abubabar Malami (SAN) were among the speakers.

    Participants affirmed that international tax evasion is a significant element of illicit financial flows, including substantial sums of money lost through transfer mispricing by multinational companies.

    They underscored the need for collective effort to strengthen international cooperation and mutual assistance in addressing the challenges of transfer and trade mispricing.

    According to the declaration, there is the need for financial institutions to subject accounts held by certain persons to greater scrutiny and monitoring, including senior government officials, leaders of political parties, executives at state-owned enterprises and others with access to large amount of state assets and the power to direct them.

    Speakers called on countries to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner the international transfer of proceeds of crime and funds of illicit origin.

    They also called for enhancement of compliance by financial and designated non-financial institutions to identify, trace, seize, recover and return the proceeds of crime and funds of illicit origin, including enhanced due diligence on financial flows from identified high risk jurisdictions.

    Developed countries were urged to consider waiving or reducing to the barest minimum reasonable expenses deducted when recovering assets, particularly when the requesting state is a developing country.

    The declaration urged asset holders to bear in mind that the return of illicitly acquired funds contributes to inclusive growth and sustainable development.

    The declaration reads in part: “Participants reiterated the need for countries to ensure that there are adequate mechanisms in place to manage and preserve the value and condition of assets pending the conclusion of confiscation proceedings.

    “IFF when tracked should not remain in the custody of enabling financial institutions but should be transferred into escrow account, preferably in development banks pending return to countries of origin;

    “Participants also underscored that the non-repatriation of IFF from destination countries to source countries in a timely and collaborative manner is a denial of human rights as it deprives developing countries of resources required to progressively realise the right to development and implement social investment programmes aimed at alleviating poverty.”

  • Anti-graft war: Supreme Court justice gives tips on loot recovery

    •Akaahs urges Fed Govt to explore plea-bargain option

    A Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs, has suggested that the war against corruption should be targeted at recovering stolen funds as against securing conviction and sentencing to terms of imprisonment.

    He said efforts should be directed at using the plea bargain option, where substantial part, if not all, of the looted funds are recovered, as against the practice where plea bargain allow for a negotiated exit for a defendant, who is still allowed to retain a substantial part of the loot.

    Akaahs spoke in Abuja on Saturday evening, while reacting to a lecture on Reforming the Nigerian Justice system, delivered by Lindsay Jones, a judge and Law Professor at Emory University, United States, at the annual dinner/ reunion of International Dispute Resolution Institute (IDRI).

    He said instead of directing efforts at ensuring that treasury looters are all put behind bars, there should be a way of making these looters return all they have stolen and perhaps, be asked to go home and sin no more. He added that such people could later be punished if they return to the act.

    ed that keeping such individuals in prison will serve to the detriment of the society, which is already the victim of such looter’s act, because the state must feed such a convict and cater for his/her health, security and other needs while in prison.

    Jones, in his lecture, identified some major challenges of the Nigerian judicial system. He argued that the system was long overdue for reform.

    He suggested areas that require urgent reform.

    The U.S. judge regretted that the nation’s judicial system was yet to overcome the problem of delay that affect public confidence in the system’s ability to deliver justice at the appropriate time and create rooms for external meddling in court’s operations.

    Jones suggested that efforts should be made to ensure the full integration of the various Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms into the court system.

    He noted for instance, that there were still contradictory positions among the nation’s courts on issues like how to address applications for stay of proceedings pending arbitration and how to set aside arbitral awards.

    Justice Mary Peter Odili, also of the Nigerian Supreme Court, agreed that the nation’s judicial system require urgent overhaul for it to function effectively.

    Hailing Jones for his lecture, Justice Odili urged the event’s organisers to ensure that Jones’ paper was made available to the committee inaugurated last Friday by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, to reform the judiciary.

    IDRI’s Chairman, Prof C. J. Amasike argued that the integration of ADR mechanisms into the judicial system will curb the hardship occasioned on litigants by the challenge of delays associated with the system.

  • Nigeria deplores non-repatriation of loot

    Nigeria deplores non-repatriation of loot

    Nigeria is not happy at the non-repatriation of its stolen funds running into millions of dollars stashed in foreign banks. Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama speaking at the high level segment of the 34th Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland declared that the non-restitution of the funds back to Nigeria is affecting the socio-economic rights of the people to investible funds which should be used for development.
    “The non-release of the funds is also affecting the anti-corruption drive of the government which has placed the fight against corruption as one of its priorities,” Sarah Sanda, media aide to the minister, quoted him as saying.
    He thanked donor agencies and humanitarian organisations for their assistance to internally displaced persons and refugees fleeing the war against Boko Haram in Nigeria and countries in the Lake Chad region
    The Minister said that the fighting capacity of Boko Haram had been degraded and defeated with the take-over of Sambisa forest, the strong hold of the terrorists.
    He said that the only seemingly challenge now is some sporadic isolated acts of terror often using young girls as human bombs.
    Onyeama also briefed the council on Nigeria’s prison reform programme and the clean-up of Ogoniland.
    He said that the clean-up demonstrated national and global concern over the effects of pollution on the lives of the people of that area and the ecosystem.
    He added that the step is a clear demonstration of corporate responsibility and cooperation between transnational corporations and the government.
    He said that the measure had ensured the right to clean water for the indigenous population who could not fish or farm due to water and soil pollution.
    Nigeria is currently a member of the council (2015-2017) having served two times previously (2006-2009 and 2009-2012).
    It was elected the third President of the Human Rights Council from June 2008-June 2009.
    Nigeria is also seeking re-election into the 47 member council for the 2018 to 2020 term.
    The re-election bid is important as it will avail the country the opportunity to continue to defend its interest whenever there is negative interference to contemporary human rights developments in the country.
    In January this year, Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, warned that Nigeria risked losing another $550 million recovered from the Abacha family to the U.S.
    He said this was contrary to the earlier promise made by the U.S. to return money to Nigeria.
    Sagay said the amount represented a separate tranche from the earlier $480 million forfeited to the U.S. following a court judgment in August 2014.
    He said that the stringent conditions for repatriation given by the countries in which some of the nation’s stolen wealth was stashed contradicted the earlier promises made.
    Sagay decried the stringent conditions and other uncooperative attitude of the countries in possession of the stolen funds.
    He told the News Agewncy of Nigeria (NAN) “Out of the Abacha loot for instance, Switzerland seized over 505.5 million dollars between 2004 and 2006.
    “The UK recovered 2.7 million dollars from Alamieyeseigha’s account in London in 2005.
    “Alamieyeseigha’s home and other real estate as at 2005 was estimated at over 15 million dollars,’’ Sagay said.
    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had also called for the unconditional return of Nigeria’s looted fund.
    Dabiri-Erewa, who noted that asset recovery was different from asset returning, decried the uncooperative attitude of the countries where the stolen funds were stashed.
    “America has over 400 million dollars that have been officially recovered as stolen funds from Nigeria.
    “But America is keeping the funds; they are telling us about technicalities; they are saying we recovered doesn’t mean we can return.’’
    According to her, the person who steals is just as guilty as the person who keeps stolen funds.

  • Fayose paid Ozekhome N75m from Dasuki loot, says EFCC

    Fayose paid Ozekhome N75m from Dasuki loot, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos, to reject Chief Mike Ozekhome’s bid to unfreeze his Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account, which has a balance of N75 million.

    The EFCC claimed the money, which was paid to Ozekhome as legal fee by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, was part of the N2.26 billion arms procurement fund, which a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), allegedly looted.

    It said Dasuki routed N1.22 billion of the N2.26 billion to Fayose through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.The commission stated this yesterday in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to Ozekhome’s application.

    Justice Anka froze the account on February 7, following an ex-parte application from the EFCC claiming the N75 million deposited into the account on December 15, was suspected to be proceeds of crime.

    He ordered Ozekhome to forfeit the money for 120 days pending investigation by the EFCC.

    Ozekhome is the counsel to Fayose, whose account was frozen by the EFCC for alleged money laundering.

    But the lawyer approached the court, saying the EFCC misrepresented facts to obtain the order and urged Justice Anka to lift the order.

    The SAN contended that the EFCC’s action was unconstitutional, had no legal justification and was a gross violation of sections 36, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

    But in yesterday’s counter-affidavit deposed to by EFCC counsel, Idris Mohammed, the commission stated that after Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos placed a temporary restriction on Fayose’s account, the governor, through Ozekhome, went before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court to obtain an order to unfreeze the account.

    The prosecutor said even though Fayose was aware the commission immediately appealed Justice Taiwo’s ruling, the governor went ahead to dissipate part of the contentious funds, paying N75 million to Ozekhome, who helped him to secure Justice Taiwo’s unfreezing order.

    The EFCC claimed Ozekhome ought to have “reasonably known that the N75 million was transferred to him” from Fayose’s account, which the EFCC claimed was used to retain proceeds of crime and alleged kick-backs from some contractors in Ekiti State.

    It urged Justice Anka not to unfreeze Ozekhome’s account.

    Justice Anka adjourned till March 7, for hearing.

  • NBA to FG:  Stop allowing looters enjoy part of loot

    NBA to FG:  Stop allowing looters enjoy part of loot

    The Nigeria Bar Association has urged the Federal Government to stop allowing looters of public fund to enjoy any part of the loot.

    It said the fight against corruption would remain a joke if looters were made to pay fine or part of the looted fund.

    Delivering a keynote address entitled “Evaluating the Current Anti-corruption Efforts of the Federal Government in Nigeria”, Edo State Chairman of NBA; Barrister Ede Asenoguan said there was no enforcement of stringent sanction against those who looted public funds.

    Asenoguan noted that corruption has been fostered in the country when those who looted public funds  pay a fragment of the huge sum of money stolen from government coffers and allowed to work on the streets freely without forfeiture and adequate sanctioning.

    He was speaking at a forum organized by CLEEN Foundation.

    His words, “I can assure you that over 80% of Nigerians, if given the chance, would prefer to steal N5b and pay the sum of N5m or to go to jail for six months or one year and later come out to enjoy the balance of the N5b.

    “The fight against corruption must not be centred on only the influential people in the country but should cut across board regardless of whoever that is involved.”

    Head, Public Relations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, South-South zone, Mr. Oluwale Oladele, said the commission secured a total of 1,500 convictions between 2015-2016.

    Mr. Oluwale said the EFCC has proven that it is working and proactive owing to the number of persons it has prosecuted.

    He explained that the commission could only be more effective in its fight against corruption when Nigerians join hands to fight corruption by volunteering information to the body that can lead to the arrest and investigation of individuals.

    Project Manager of Budgit, Abayomi Akinbo, noted that the trust and confidence of Nigerians in the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari could only be restored if money recovered from looters are made known to the public.

  • Diezani’s alleged loot: EFCC hunts for another ex-GMD of NNPC

    Diezani’s alleged loot: EFCC hunts for another ex-GMD of NNPC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) is hunting for another former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC) in connection with the ongoing probe of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The said ex-GMD was yet to respond to EFCC’s letter of invitation which was sent through NNPC to him.

    The anti-graft agency may be forced to watch-list the affected ex-GMD.

    The former Minister is under investigation for alleged  N23.29billion poll bribery scam; controversial withdrawal of $153m from NNPC accounts; alleged $1.6billion money laundering and oil deals; posh $37.5million assets and plots of land on Banana Island and other choice properties in Nigeria and Dubai.

    The ex-GMD is said to be vital to the ongoing probe of Alison-Madueke.

    A top source in EFCC said: “We are already looking for another ex-GMD of NNPC. We followed necessary protocol by inviting him through NNPC but he is yet to report for interrogation after many months of acknowledging our invitation.

    “We may be forced to watch-list the former GMD which can lead to his extradition from any part of the world.

    “This former GMD ought to interact with our detectives on some of the clues already at the disposal of EFCC.

    “But the ex-GMD has been relying on one excuse or the other to meet with our team of investigators.”

    Responding to a question, the top source said: “We have been able to trace the country where the ex-GMD is at present. We only need to locate where exactly he is staying. The good thing is that we have a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with his host country which can hasten his arrest and repatriation.

    “The EFCC does not say the former GMD is guilty of any infractions yet. But we want him to return home to respond to some issues on Diezani.”

    The EFCC has detained a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Andrew Yakubu’s over alleged slush funds of  $9,772,800 and £74,000.

    Yakubu, who is in EFCC’s custody in Kano, confirmed that the cash was accumulated gift from unnamed persons.

    The anti-graft agency revealed that Yakubu hid the cash in a fire proof safe at his brother’s house in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna metropolis.