Looters: FG Releases Fresh List, More To Come
BY CHINYERE OBIORA, LAGOS – The corruption blame game between the Federal Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went a notch higher on Sunday as the Presidency released more names of alleged looters of Nigeria’s treasury
Keeping to its earlier statement that the list made public on Friday, March 30, 2018 was just a teaser, the government on Sunday, April 1, updated the list of perceived looters during the PDP days in power.
In what one insider described as ‘2019 presidency in focus’, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who had insisted that the list is being strategically released, added fresh names on the alleged looters’ roll call in a statement issued in Lagos.
According to the Minister’s statement, “At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or just to shoot down anything coming from the government.”
He said there is a large number of alleged looters on government’ list, adding; “What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the party’s watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke? Did they think it is April fool?”
Alhaji Mohammad said PDP’s reaction to the looters’ list aptly demonstrates that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.
The Minister said though keeping an eye on improving the lives of all Nigerians, government will not compromise its fight against corruption as it takes the anti-graft war to all alleged looters of the nation’s commonwealth and their ill-gotten assets:
Among names on the new list are:
- Lt.-Gen Kenneth Minimah (rtd): N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion recovered by EFCC in cash and property
- Lt.-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd): N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.
- Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.
- Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.
- Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.
- Senator Bala Abdulkadir, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.
- Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.
- Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion – from NSA.
- Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.
- Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.
- Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion 12. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million
- Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion
- Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million
- Tom Ikimi: N300 million
- Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million
- Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million
- Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion
- Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion
- Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million
- Godknows Igali: Over N7billion
- Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1 billion military equipment scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any formal contract awards.
- Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke: In just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled.
She is also involved in the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes and royalty. About $3 billion was involved.
The Information Minister said government will use all legal instruments ,local and international, to ensure justice in its prosecution of Omokore and Aluko.
