Monday, March 28, 2016

₦116b (US$2.billion) Deals Probe: Panel Lists Those To Refund Cash


*Dasuki, Fadile, Matawalle, Yuguda, others named *EFCC gets report on how US$2.1b was released 

Barely three days after the Presidency claimed that 300  persons and companies were implicated in ₦116billion “curious” contracts issued by  the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), details of the cash some of those indicted will refund have emerged.

The Nation report continues:

Also at the weekend, it was learnt a former Director of Funds in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mohammed Dikwa, admitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the controversial US$2.billion released to ONSA under ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki were based on either presidential or ministerial orders.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Thursday claimed that the ONSA committee had recovered over ₦7billion from those indicted.

The indicted companies are to refund ₦41 billion.

The investigating agencies, including the EFCC, will determine whether ₦75 billion should be recovered from some of the companies.

The Special Committee in the Office of the NSA found some persons and companies “guilty” of some infractions.

Some of the alleged infractions:

o   breach of contract terms;

o   non-execution of contracts;

o   haphazard or partial completion of contracts;

o   collection of funds for unexecuted contracts;

o   diversion of funds for political purposes; and

o   sheer mismanagement of contract funds.

The 300 persons and companies have been referred to investigating agencies, including EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police.

Amounts to be refunded by some of the persons and companies are as follows: Acacia Holding Limited – (N600m and  N650m); Reliance Referral Hospitals Limited - ₦750m(16/4/2015); African Cable Television Limited - ₦350million; Dalhatu Investment Limited (₦500m) -20/12/13 and ₦200m on 17/3/15;,Duchy Concepts Limited RC392281(N70m) – 17/3/15; Wehsec Farms Limited RC 713258(N200m); Stellavera Dev Company – ₦250m; Stellavera Dev Company- ₦250m; Societe d’Equipments internationaux – US$6,954,000(21/4/2015), US$30m(9/5/15); US$50m(9/3/15); €1, 395, 346.84(11/12/13); €1,401,869(2/10/13); €2, 252,252.25; US$16m(20/5/14); US$38m(20/5/14); US$36m(20/5/14); US$5m(4/6/14); US$10m(11/7/14).

Some of the expected refunds from individuals are Dr. Bello Matawalle – ₦300m; Bello Fadile -₦100m and Bashir Yududa ₦1.5 billion.

A source in EFCC said: “Some of those indicted have outstanding cases under investigation by our agency. These allegations are intertwined and we may have to improve on a few clues.

“The latest assignment is to recover the sums against these 300 persons and companies. A few of them had written to the commission to refund some money illegally collected for jobs not done.

“In line with the mandate of the Presidency, we will get to the root of the allegations against those already referred to us. We will also collaborate with other investigating agencies.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Of course, some of these persons and companies will be prosecuted.”

Meanwhile, a former Director of Funds in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mohammed Dikwa, has given insights to the disbursement of the controversial US$2.1billion and other funds to ONSA under Dasuki.

Dikwa gave the details in a statement made to the EFCC on the ongoing investigation of the US$2.1billion arms procurement cash and the trial of some suspects.

He admitted to the EFCC that funds were released to ONSA, led by Dasuki, based on either presidential or ministerial orders.

He said: “I am the Director of Funds from April 2013 to date. All releases were made based on approvals by relevant authorities.

“Releases of funds are normally initiated by relevant MDAs and go through presidential approval or ministerial approval or budgetary provisions, depending upon the nature of the requests.

“Having obtained the necessary approvals, the OAGF will process the approval by drawing a mandate instrument and send to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“The CBN will then pay the amount involved to the relevant agency. The agency will now spend the funds in line with the established Financial Rules and Regulations.

“The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and other relevant agencies will also conduct post-mortem examination of the books of accounts of such MDAs as to the appropriateness or otherwise of such transactions.

“All releases in favour of the National Security Adviser were based on approvals by the appropriate authorities.
The following releases were made under the former Accountant-General of the Federation (Mr. J.O. Otunla): US$250,000,000 on 16/2/2015; US$5,500,000 on 20/3/2015; US$10,000,000 on 9/4/2015; US$10m on 29/4/2015; US$1,200, 000,000 in November 2013; US$5.5m on 13/12/2013; US$120m (15/11/2013).

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