Fresh revelations reveal that the total money stolen/diverted from the arms scandal is not $2.1 Billion as widely reported, but now put at $15 Billion, NigerianEye gathered that the $2.1bn fraud was just for one of the several transactions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered $12.9billion more arms deals fraud during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, it was learnt yesterday.
The development has brought arms funds, which were diverted to other uses, to $15billion as the initial probe covered only $2.1billion.
As part of the ongoing investigation of the arms deals, the EFCC yesterday froze an account with $500million. The owner of the account was not immediately known.
The anti-graft commission has seized houses from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Besides, a wrist watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold and diamond have been confiscated from Mrs Alison-Madueke, a source said.
These details are contained in an update on the ongoing investigation of the arms deals by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
There are indications that many military officers may be questioned.
A source, who spoke in confidence on the investigation, said: “From our findings so far, the amount involved in the arms deals was over $15billion. The $2.1billion which you have written so much about is just one transaction into an account in the First Bank of Nigeria in New York.
“They moved the money into the FBN account from where they were disbursing and re-routing the cash. Our priority is to recover these funds but we will still prosecute the individuals and companies involved.
“Most of these companies were incorporated by serving military officers and these officers were the sole signatories into the accounts of these companies.
“All these suspects are not showing remorse, they think that they can go away with the fraud but we won’t allow them.
“Yet when we interrogate them, you see them wearing pampers and cannot stand or walk in public for a long time. Then, you are tempted to ask why they have to steal all these funds meant for public projects.
“The Trauma Centre at the National Hospital with a helipad was built with N1.8billion; you can imagine how many of such centres and schools these looted funds can provide.”
The source also explained that the EFCC yesterday intercepted about $500million in an account and blocked it.
The source added: “Just some few hours ago, our investigators today (Tuesday) blocked an account with about $500million. We are already looking at all clues on how the cash was wired.
“What we have recovered in just one year is more than the total recovery by the EFCC since inception. There was huge looting which will affect the coming generation if the funds are not recovered.”
The source gave insights into the probe of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and businessman Jide Omokore.
”We have seized many houses belonging to Diezani and Omokore on Banana Island and other places. Also, a wristwatch of about £1.4million was seized from Omokore’s wife.
“From the former minister, we have retrieved a choice wrist watch worth £600,000 and jewelry in gold and diamond. We will soon show Nigerians all these items for them to appreciate what we have done and to learn some lessons.”
He explained that at the time the wrist watches were seized, the price tags were there.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also seized a N2.6billion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine from the Diagnostic Centre owned by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.
The anti-graft agency discovered that the MRI machine was bought with some of the funds meant for arms purchase.
The investigators claimed that while Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre has MRI equipment, none of the Air Force clinics nationwide could boast of such a state-of-the-art equipment.
Also, there were indications last night that a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh may automatically forfeit the controversial $1million(N318m) found in his house to the Federal Government.
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned ownership of the money.
According to EFCC investigation, some of the arms funds allegedly diverted by Amosu, were used to buy the MRI machine for the Diagnostic Centre.
MRI is a non-invasive medical test that physicians use to diagnose and treat medical conditions.
It was learnt that the centre might be confiscated by the government.
A top source in the EFCC said: “After thorough investigations, we have seized a MRI equipment of about N2.6billion from Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre. We were able to trace the purchase of the machine to some of the diverted funds meant for procurement of arms.
“We may also place the centre under temporary asset forfeiture pending the conclusion of the trial of the suspect.
“All these assets are apart from the N2.3billion, houses, $140,000 and N381m recovered from Amosu’s wife.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The ex-Chief of Air Staff is still under investigation along with some military officers. We have not cleared him.”
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh may automatically forfeit the controversial $1million(N318m) found in his house to the Federal Government.
The EFCC source said: “We retrieved the cash from Badeh’s residence in Maitama District of Abuja and the operation was witnessed by his neighbours.
“Now that he has denied having such, the cash will be automatically forfeited to the Federal Government.”
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned claims that the money was recovered from his home.
Zibri said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication of March 7th 2016 to the effect that the sum of $1,000,000(One Million US Dollars) cash was recovered in the house of Air Chief Marshal A.S Badeh (Rtd). The said publication is not only malicious but wicked.
“It is totally false and smacks of media campaign of calumny against the person of Air Marshal Alex. Badeh (Rtd) The ten (10) count charge against our client along with the proof of evidence in the Federal High Court are public documents and can be accessed by the general public.
“There is no such allegation and we challenge the faceless EFCC official to substantiate his claim. The Trial has commenced and as a law abiding citizen our client will defend himself in accordance with the law.”
With all this revelations, some morons will still be heaping praises on Jonathan. Praise Jonathan for looting the nation blind? If you come out here again to praise Jonathan under any guise again, you and your entire generation will suffer for it.
ReplyDeleteUnder Jonathan, looting was massive because he was a leader who "gives no damn"!
KJoe
This is just too much!
That is your foolish business...may propaganda not wipe not wipe you and your entire generation out...revelations indeed...when you ask them to work,the will bring out one rubbish propaganda to divert attention...rubbish...
DeleteBut when are we going to learn that tribalism cannot do our nation any good. With all these, you still did not want to admit that Mr Jonathan's reign was clouded with corruption simply because he's from the same geographical location as yours...this is very sad.
DeleteJonathan should be arrested and jail in New Jersey, USA where he's giving speech for producing the richest man in Africa....Just as Obama accused Africa for producing big personalities rather than building institutions and creating enabling environment for the masses to thrive...Corruption is institutionalised for the first time in the history of Nigeria and the wirld is turning a blind eyes on Jonathan's arrest....Time will tell as more revelations unfold
ReplyDeleteI am not sure we are close to the end of this revelation. U urge us all to condemn and demand for justice
DeleteMoron, if Jonathan has stolen, arrest and try him. all we want is improved fuel, power,employment, food prices etc. Perform and people will stop praising Jonathan. Brandishing figures will not put food on our table. You are only deceiving yourself and your generation by denying the obvious.
ReplyDeleteClap, clap. Good for EFCC but these are just stories please and distractions imho. The media is not the place for evidence analysis and such. It is very backward, unprofessional and more like smear than investigation. Maybe our nomad wants to travel again hence this new "bombshell". PS: Q-How long does it take to review bank accounts in excel? Ans-Certainly not one year.
ReplyDelete@EFCC,the amosu diagnostic center on Adeniyi jones is open for business..were you wrong when u listed to property as confiscated?
ReplyDeleteIs this revelation supposed to change the price of rice,garri, tomato, fuel and others in the market. Brandishing figure that cannot be substantiated is not fighting corruption,GEJ is busy winning laurels all over while you guys are busy dancing in circles. If GEJ if found culpable please try and convict him, else stop this every day stories. We are tired of it. If care is not taken , after 4 years this administration / APC / Buhari will go on record as the worst government this country has ever had. Please, check out there, Nigerians are suffering, people can't afford to feed their kids. How does this information help them. Please be a responsible government and help the plight of the common man / deliver on your promise to people.
ReplyDeleteMany Nigerians are shortsighted, and only thinks of porridge of the now, like the Biblical Esau, and cares less about the future. Shame on you all. You think turning the economy round can be achieved overnight? Go and study the history of Nations that made in the World, and you will the sacrifices the Leaders, and followers put in, to make their Nations great. If you think that, the demolition of a mansion is as easy as building it, then you need to have a rethink. Remove the dust from your eyes, so you can see clearly.
DeleteA lot of you just come to say rubbish, obviously with no common sense. This is pure stealing, Jonathan or not this pple are guilty, this is just too much. How can one person have all of this (1.4m)pounds wrist watch. This is so absurd and mean, millions of Nigerians are suffering right now due to some pple's selfish interest to loot funds that belongs to all of us.they are deserve to die for real, but we wld leave them in the hands of God. For sm pple that says it's distraction, that they want light, good roads, petrol etc. How will all this come to play of we don't recover all this money, Nigeria is seriously broke. Corruption should be tackle seriously.
ReplyDeleteGod bless Nigeria.
Thank you! How can we have electricity, good roads, working refineries and fuel when some few steal the nation blind as being discovered?
DeleteThe question is: what would have befallen us if GEJ had ruled till now that our mainstay is now thirty-something US Dollars a barrel? In spite of today's hardship, how many looters have come clean to refund our stolen commonwealth out of patriotism and desire to save coming generations. Even when they are caught with irrefutable evidence, they find ways to circumvent justice. We may not have seen results tangible yet from this administration, but evidently there is a sense of honesty from Buhari, notably in his deliberate non--obstruction of investigations and judicial process. Shouldn't that tell us there is a sincerity of purpose for our common good? Chew on that.
ReplyDeletePls stop crying about stolen money. Recover and use the money to improve power, increase fuel supplies and build good roads.
ReplyDeleteI am tired of hearing PDP loot, Jonathan LOOT, El-MATOSKY LOOT! Under Ur watech our CRIMINAL "law breakers" bought an SUV for #32m and pay tax of #4m total #36m. In this not corruption? IDIOTs! Some gullible anonymous were quick to swallow Ur stories with hook, line and sinker. Mumus.
Well if all these revelations are true, why should Jonathan be still moving freely and I think judiciary arms of government should brace up now to ensure quick diposal of justice
ReplyDeleteI like to remind them that they and their children's children will share in the woes that befall this nation as a result of this fraud. So no one should be spared including GEJ
Dis is just 2 distract some few ppl who are suffering from amnesia. Dis man has not done a single tin and he is busy killing d image of democrats and ppl wit good heart 4 d nation. And so many gullible ppl will be clapping and suffering as a result of som 1nce ignorance and failure 2 seek for advice from ppl like gej who knows. Pls EFCC b4 arresting gej put into consideration d economy shut down and a likely catastrophic violence it might bring upon innocent Nigerians cos as it stands GEJ is a hero and Nigerians will find it insulting if d person dat care 4 dem is wickedly incarcerated. Dis propaganda and lies will not improve dis nation tink about dis PMB.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious you are the one suffering from amnesia. That our economy is now trash in less than 2 years of decline in crude oil prices only shows that the problem of this country is greed and wickedness, and that my friend is "the only thing" Nigeria needs fixed! My problem with PMB is that he has not even started killing people and please dont tell me about "rule of law" crap cos when these people were busy looting monies for our future, they didn't think of rule of law. When we start killing looters like they do in China, then we will have power, infrastructure and better living standards. No economic policy, team or idea can fix a country where greed and wickedness reign supreme. As far as I'm concerned PMB is not going the right way with this fight. The solution to greed and wickedness is to kill as many looters as you can, then the others will run and then we can start thinking of economic policies and the rest, without that, all this will still be a joke!
DeleteWell I am not in the right position to tell whether this report is false or not because I am not privy to EFCC internal activities. But the law of the land has clear specified what should be done to people that have abused their offices hence 'let the law take its course' and let the government start working for the benefit of the masses, we are tired of these stories from the media. yesterday we will see in the media that Diziani has returned 90 billion USD, UAE is returning looted 200 billion USD to Nigeria... I will not be surprise if I wake up one morning and read in NE that the 20 billion dollars alleged missing in NNPC during the last administration as claimed by APC during their presidential campaign is linked to this same arms deal.
ReplyDeleteYea...I strongly agree with you bro...killing is the best option...mayb when we pry deeper into the tenure of pmb in ptf,we might also kill him...
DeleteEl matosky you will always be an idiot
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