Ha!! $15bn Arms Fund Missing not $2.1bn, Umar not totally Wiped – EFCC

Shocking revelations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revealed that contrary to earlier reports that $2.1 billion meant to procure arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram was allegedly diverted by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, over  $15bn Arms fund is actually missing.

The EFCC has however stated that the $15 billion was not only diverted by Dasuki, but various other agencies and personalities were involved in the diversion.

According to the Punch, an unnamed top source at the commission, on Tuesday revealed that the EFCC and the presidential panel on arms procurement, during investigations, discovered that $2.1bn fraud was just for one of the several transactions.

The source further stated that it was discovered that top military officers deliberately incorporated companies to divert anti-insurgency funds for their personal uses.

“We have discovered that the total money in the arms scandal is over $15bn, not $1.2bn that was initially discovered. The $2.1bn was just for one transaction. Many of these military officers set up companies for the purpose of diverting money meant for the prosecution of the anti-insurgency war,” he said.

Meanwhile, the source also added that the allegation of bribery against the Code of Conduct Chairman, Danladi Umar, has not been completely wiped clean.

Umar was alleged to have demanded a N10m bribe from Rasheed Taiwo, a former customs officer.

According to the source, the content of the EFCC letter was purported to have cleared Umar was clear.

“Facts are being distorted by those who are afraid of their shadow. The letter, dated March 5, 2015, clearly explains that there was no sufficient evidence at that time to prosecute the judge. It is not an exoneration. The man (who wrote the letter) says there is no sufficient evidence. The issue can come up again.”

The Punch is also reporting that it learnt that the EFCC seized a £600,000 wristwatch from Diezani Alison-Maduaeke, former petroleum minister. Similarly, the paper also reports that another wristwatch worth 1.4m pounds was seized from the wife of the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr Jide Omokore.

It was also revealed that the commission is already talking to security agencies abroad to extradite former minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Mu’azu to face corruption charges in Nigeria.

Source: The Punch