The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
denied the “theft” of N10.9billion belonging to the National Intelligence
Agency (NIA) by its official.
On April 12, 2017, the EFCC uncovered about $43.5million,
£27,800 and N23.2 million inside Apartment 7B, Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo chaired a presidential
investigation committee that grilled the sacked NIA DG, Ayo Oke, ex-EFCC
chairman Ibrahim Magu, among others.
A Brigadier General, Jafaru Mohammed, is accused of stealing
a chunk of the money to purchase properties now forfeited to the Federal
Government.
Mohammed is currently the Director of Finance and
Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
In 2017, the senior officer was appointed by Magu to oversee
the N13billion found in Ikoyi. The EFCC was then in charge of NIA bank
accounts.
In a statement at the weekend, EFCC Head of Media, Wilson
Uwujaren said Mohammed was not its staff.
The spokesman noted that claim was false and intended to
mislead the public.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC has no accountant by
name, Jafaru Mohammed and could not have appointed him to serve in another
agency.
“It is infantile to suggest that the Commission would
appoint an accountant for the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, which is not a
department of the EFCC.”
After Abdulrasheed Bawa assumed office last year, the EFCC
secured an interim forfeiture order on assets linked to Mohammed.
In March 2021, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal
High Court in Abuja, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/007/2021, directed the seal of the
properties.
A House on Plot 7, God’s Own Estate, Road 1, Wamna District,
Abuja; a fenced plot at No 1 Jubril Aminu Crescent, Katampe Extension, Abuja; a
plot at Kubwa Express, opposite Abuja Model City Gate; a house on Block SD 22
House 2, Road 5, Kabusa Garden Estate, Abuja.
Others are No 15, 21 Crescent, 2nd Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate,
Abuja; No 3 Liverpool Close, Sun City Estate, Abuja; No 52 Mainstreet, Sun City
Estate, Abuja; No 25 Osaka Street, Sun City Estate, Abuja.
On February 14, 2022, Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High
Court in Abuja granted final forfeiture after an application by EFCC lawyers,
Cosmos Ugwu and Musa Isah.
Additional properties seized include a Truck Assembly at
Ring Road, adjacent to A A Affa Filling Station, Kano; Marhaba Event Place,
Guda Abdullahi Road, Kano.
A plot located at Rake, adjacent to Dara Orthopedic
Hospital, Kano; 117 hectares of land at Adiabo, Oduapani LG, Calabar, with
Certificated of Occupancy No. OD/23/2011 dated 21/2/ 2011.
Announcing the court ruling, the EFCC concealed Mohammed’s
name but mentioned his accomplices.
The proxies include the late General Maude Aminun-Kano,
Atlasfield Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, Marhaba Events Place, Aflac
Plastics and Atlasfield Gas Plant Limited.
In August 2017, the citizens that provided intelligence on
the NIA funds petitioned the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Abubakar
Malami.
The claimants, through their solicitors, accused the EFCC of
failing to pay their whistleblower commission.
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