I was paid N25m by Metuh from the arms fund but I sent it to the EFCC, says Sambo’s aide

Abba Dabo, former special adviser on political matters to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, has narrated how Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gave him N25m to fight criticisms in the traditional and in the social media against former President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Dabo, however, explained that he returned the money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when he realised it was part of funds for arms purchase allegedly diverted for other purposes by Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA). “On December 16, 2014, Metuh paid N25m through Destra Investment Limited account into my personal account for purposes of publicity for the PDP,” he said. “When it became obvious that former President Goodluck Jonathan will run for office, government officials and party leaders started to meet to review the achievements of the government and prepare for the elections. “In the course of those meetings, a lot of concern was shown in the opposition’s total control of the media. 

The PDP was getting negative publicity, and ministers were told to speak more to the press to enhance the image of the government. “On my part, we set up a media support group and registered it as ‘Media Support System’ to do media work for the party. We commissioned writers to write and be paid to promote the government. “We called it rapid response team, which was successful. It was its success that led to more meetings with Metuh. “Social media was becoming more stringent in the criticism of the PDP. 

Also, Hausa radio stations were vicious in the attack of the government and the party. Chief Metuh thought I could assist in mitigating this; that was why he gave me the N25m five days after the presidential nomination convention. “With that money, we set up a team of facilitators and young IT enthusiasts to run a website called, ‘What’s up Naija’ but we could not register it because the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wanted it to be ‘What’s up Nigeria.’ “Because the money was linked to the controversial arms deal, I decided to return it. 

On my own accord, I decided the best way out of this rigmarole was to pay back the money. I paid it back to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).” Dabo is the seventh witness to testify against Metuh. Metuh, who is facing a seven-count charge of money laundering arrived at the court a few minutes before 9am, donning a black suit, and was clean shaven — a departure from how he looked when he was at Kuje prison.

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Namadi Sambo house raided, $60,000 (about 18 million Naira) recovered

EFCC, have raided the Abuja office of former Vice President,  Namadi Sambo, carting away $60,000 from his safe.

The raid was carried out, weekend, on the building which houses a top European High Commission’s Visa Processing Centre opposite the National Defence College, Abuja, throwing some occupants into confusion.

A source close to the operation confirmed that the operatives broke into the safe kept by the former vice president and removed whatever valuable they found, including top branded wrist watches, assets declaration forms, and list of landed property.

The raid, it was learned, followed the discovery that one of Sambo’s aide, known as Daboh, was found to have collected N25 million from the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisah Metuh, as part of the sum he got from the former NSA, Dasuki Sambo.

Although Daboh was arrested on January 11 by the EFCC and later released after taking statement from him, the operatives swooped on the ex-VP’s office on Saturday with the hope of extracting “incriminating evidence.”

The raid took place barely a few days after Sambo had moved some vital documents from his residence to the office in the Central Business District, in many bags, known as “Ghana-Must-Go, which were thought to contain foreign currencies

The raid also coincided with the trip of Sambo to the United Kingdon, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where he is undergoing treatment on one of his legs and for some religious purposes.

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Leadership Newspaper returns its share of N9 million

The management of Leadership Holdings Limited, publishers of Leadership newspapers, has returned the N9 million it received from the Presidency through the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria as compensation for the seizure of its publications in 2014.

In a letter dated January 29 and addressed to the General Secretary of NPAN, the company said it decided to return the money after some senior officials had gone behind to direct their organisations to refund the compensation received from the government even though it was agreed that they committed no offence by receiving the compensation.

It specifically alleged that the chairman of Daily Trust newspaper, Kabiru Yusuf, went behind the association and directed his newspaper to refund the money.

The letter entitled Re: Compensation for illegal seizure of newspapers was signed by the Group Managing Director of Leadership Newspapers Group Limited, Mike Okpere.

The letter obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Friday said, “We refer to the above subject matter and enclose herewith a Zenith Bank draft no 08549695 for the sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine million Naira only) being refund of the compensation paid by the Goodluck Jonathan government for the crude and illegal seizure of our newspapers over a period of 5 days by soldiers from the 6th of June to the 10th of June 2014 through the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

“It will be recalled that this was the sum paid to all newspapers which incurred losses as a result of the act which was arrived ay when President Jonathan pleaded for an out of court settlement.

The Sun newspaper had earlier in December returned its own share of N9 million.

NPAN had received N120 million from the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in June 2014 as compensation for the seizure and stoppage circulation of their newspapers by armed soldiers in Abuja and several cities.

Some of the 12 newspapers, which allegedly got the compensation, dissociated themselves from the payments.

The newspapers are African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles; Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily; Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, and Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily Independent newspapers.

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EFCC investigates Obanikoro, sons over alleged 4.8 billion Naira transfered from office of Dasuki

The Obanikoro Family with his two sons

Two sons of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Babajide and Gbolahan Obanikoro are currently on the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Sources at the anti-graft agency disclosed that about N4.75billion was traced to a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, in which the two men have interest.

Operatives believe the investigation might lead to the invitation of former Minister Obanikoro himself. The politician is currently in the United States where he is said to be schooling.

The money was allegedly paid in several tranches into the company’s account number 0026223714 with Diamond bank from the Office of the National Security Adviser account with the CBN.

According to the source, all the transfers were effected between June and December 2014, a period that coincided with the preparation for and the conduct of the Ekiti state gubernatorial election which ushered in the current administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

For instance N200m was transferred into Sylvan Mc Namara’s account on June 5, 2015, while N2billion was also wired into the account from the CBN/ Imprest Main account on June 16, 2016.

Another transfer of N700million hit the account on July 7, 2014, while N1billion was credited to the account on July 30, 2014.

Other transfers included N160m on August 8, 2014; N225m on August 22, 2014; N200m on November 14, 2014 and N200m on December 5, 2014.

Both Gbolahan and Babajide Obanikoro, sources disclosed, as directors of the company, were also signatories to its account until 2014 when one Olalekan Ogunseye was made sole signatory to the account.

EFCC sources disclosed that the payments to the company from the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, were made without any contract.

Mr. Dasuki is being prosecuted for allegedly mismanaging $2.1billion meant for arms procurement to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-west region of Nigeria.

Credit: Premium Times

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EFCC arrests FIRS Director For Tax Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Abumere Joseph Osagie,  deputy director, regional tax office, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, in a case of abuse of office and bribery.

The suspect was picked following a complaint about his attempt to extort a University proprietor N5million.

Osagie and one Jamila Ojora had on January 27, 2016 allegedly approached Senator Ahmed Datti, the Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja and gave him a tax assessment of N20,029, 496.00 through a letter of intent, which he paid.

However when he requested for the assessment certificate, they refused to oblige him. Instead they allegedly demanded for N5million gratification. All pleas by him fell on deaf ears. 

Consequently, he petitioned the EFCC, and was advised  to play along. Consequently, marked N5million was delivered to the director through Ojora in a sting operation. Ojora was arrested after she collected the N5m. Te confession led to the arrest of Osagie.

The houses of the suspects were searched by operatives of the EFCC , and documents recovered.

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EFCC seals off former Chief of Army Staff Azubuike Ihejirika estate in Abuja [Photos Below]

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed off an estate belonging to former Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Azubuike Ihejirika.

The estate in question is located along Jabi Airport road junction in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Read More: EFCC seals off former Chief of Air Staff Alex Badeh house

Ihejirika is one of the former senior officers being probed by the EFCC on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari  in connection with the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud.

The agency has also sealed off properties belonging to former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and arrested former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu.

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