EFCC have questioned two former GMDs and three former EDs
of the NNPC over their roles in the transfer of $153m to some
banks
- Meanwhile, the EFCC has begun the process of seizing a estate
in Yenagoa, which was traced to Mrs Alison-Madueke
Diezani’s $153m: EFCC drills former NNPC GMDs, EDs
Operatives of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) have questioned two former Group
Managing Directors (GMDs) and three former Executive Directors
(EDs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over
their roles in the transfer of $153m to some banks .
According to a report by The Nation, One of the former executive
directors is said to have admitted playing a role in the transfer of
the money.
An EFCC source who was quoted in the report said the five ex-
officials and a few others had been quizzed in connection with
the transfer of the funds.
“We are however not stopping at this bend because we
discovered that some of these officials were used for many illicit
transactions,” the source said.
“By the time we extend our investigation to crude oil lifting, you
will appreciate the sleaze during the tenure of Diezani as minister
of Petroleum Resources. A syndicate was used to perpetrate the
fraud in the oil firm.”
An NNPC source also confirmed the interrogation of the former
officials.
“This corporation is following the development. The EFCC is on
top of the $153million palaver; it has actually been inviting some
of our past officials for questioning.
“The good thing is that some of these former officials are still on
NNPC’s pension roll. They can be recalled at any time for
clarification of some issues.
“Our board is meeting on the $153million saga and other matters
on January 30. What we are doing now is to get the proceedings
of the Federal High Court of Friday. We have a very articulate
Legal Department which will study it.
“NNPC is a corporation with a board and a chairman. The legal
advice will determine our next step after the board’s meeting.
“If the court indicts any former officials, the corporation can still
exercise disciplinary control on them.”
Meanwhile, the EFCC has begun the process of seizing a estate
in Yenagoa , which was traced to Mrs Alison-Madueke.
“Since we recorded the breakthrough, our legal unit has been
working round the clock on how to seek the nod of the court for
a temporary forfeiture order.
“We have obtained relevant data from Bayelsa State Geographic
Information System. As a matter of fact, the estate is coded as
BGIS/OK/02/16/310 by the agency.
“We will file the required application for the seizure of the estate
pending the arraignment and the conclusion of the trial of the ex-
Minister. This is a standard benchmark allowed by the law. We
are certainly heading for the court," an EFCC spurce said.
Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act read in part: “Any property
subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the
commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is
incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property
liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the Court following an
application made by the Commission in accordance with the
prescribed rules.
“Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this
Act, the commission may-(a) place the property under seal; or
(b) remove the property to a place designated by the
Commission.
“Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed
to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of
a Court.”
Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and
Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 empower the
anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.
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