Olu Falae to be Prosecuted over Jonathan Campaign Funds

Former presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae is set to arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving N100m from the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation during the 2015 General Elections.

According to the EFCC, Chief Falae was given  N100m said to have emanated from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Punch reports that the commission would charge the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and one-time Minister of Finance with conspiracy to indirectly retain the sum of N100m “which he ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) and 4 of the same Act.”

In a statement in February, Falae admitted to collecting the N100m, but said he did not know that the money emanated from the account of ONSA.

“Chief Falae has been reporting to our office every week to answer questions on the N100m he received from the Jonathan campaign organisation. We have told him to refund the money,” an EFCC official said.

“But he said he received the money through Anenih and it was meant for campaign. However, investigations revealed that he deposited N60m into SDP’s account while he kept N40m.

“We told him that he should return the N40m, but he has not been forthcoming. We have no other option but to charge him to court.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Falae, Mr. Alfa Mohammed, said any attempt to prosecute Falae would be nothing but a witch-hunt as he never used the money for personal benefit.

Mohammed, who said the former presidential candidate was grilled for eight hours without food or water, added that the money was used by the SDP to campaign for Jonathan.

“The PDP wanted us to render a service and they gave us money, which we did by adopting and working for Jonathan. So, what is our business with arms deal?

“We never had contact with Dasuki. If you are given money to cook food for guests at a ceremony and after everyone has eaten, you are informed that the money given to you was stolen from CBN, would you tell all the guests to pay you?