How Shekarau, Others Shared N950m Bribe From Diezani – EFCC

A Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted evidence from the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission showing how a former
governor of Kano state Ibrahim Shekarau and two Others shared
N950million bribe from former Minister of Petroleum Diezani
Alison-Madueke.

“Shekarau is standing trial along with Aminu Bashir Wali and
Mansur Ahmed on a six-count charge of conspiracy and money
laundering to the tune of N950, 000, 000 (Nine Hundred and Fifty
Million Naira) only,” a statement by EFCC read.

“They are alleged to have taken possession of the said sum,
which was “part of an unlawful act of Diezani Alison-Madueke”, a
former Minister of Petroleum Resources, for gratification purpose,
in the build-up to the 2015 general election.

“The statements made by the three defendants under interrogation
were tendered in evidence by the prosecution led by EFCC counsel,
Samuel Chime. They were admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibits
A, A1, A2, B and C. The court also admitted in evidence a receipt
of payment and a letter both from Fidelity Bank as Exhibits D and
D1, respectively,” the statement read.

Shekarau was first invited by the commission in May 2016 over
this allegations which he has several times denied.

But the prosecution witness, Mahmud Tukur, an operative of the
EFCC, told the Court how investigations revealed that Shekarau and
other defendants colluded and collected the N950 million from
Fidelity Bank and distributed same among members of the oppostion
party in Kano.

“After concluding the investigation, it was revealed that N950
million was received by the 2nd and 3rd defendants on the 9th March
2015 at Fidelity Bank Plc Murtala Mohammed Way Branch Kano and was
handed over by the 2nd and 3rd defendants to the chief detail of
the 1st defendant on the consent of the 1st defendant and the
N950,000,000 was transported to the house of the 1st defendant
where it was distributed on the 27th of March 2015,” Tukur
said.

Patience Jonathan Forfeits N1bn by Court
Order

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured
an interim forfeiture of the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion,
Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira) only lodged in three
deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May, 2015.

The forfeiture order by Federal High Court sitting in Kano and
presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa is consequent upon a
motion ex parte filed by the Commission seeking for the interim
forfeiture of the money, which was found in the Bank account of
Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to the former First Lady of
Nigeria, Patience Jonathan.

The Commission had gotten an intel that a bank account domiciled
in Fidelity Bank, had a huge sum of money that was not being used
by anybody.

Upon receipt of the intelligence, the EFCC swung into action by
conducting preliminary investigation, which revealed that Patience
and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan were
directors of the Company. Others named as directors are Oba Oba
Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai
and Esther Fynface.

In trying to trace the origin of the money, it was discovered
that N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface,
who is alleged to be in charge of the Company, while N1 billion
(One Billion Naira Only) was transferred in two tranches on the
25th May, 2015 from PAGMAT OIL AND GAS NIGERIA LIMITED a company
that was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs
Commission.

Ruling on the motion, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that: “An
interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in
the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety
Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent
Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd
respondent Fidelity Bank Plc”.

The court further ordered that the forfeited sum be deposited in
the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity