2-IN-1 STORY: US$2.1 BILLION ARMS FUNDS: I, 8 Other Prominent Northerners Collected ₦53m From Anenih — Yakassai

Tanko Yakasai

…Says money was for northern traditional rulers to mobilize their subjects

Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai yesterday confirmed that Chief Tony Anenih gave him and eight other prominent Northerners ₦53m for advocacy visit to northern traditional rulers.

Vanguard report continues:
Yakasai said he received the money after Anenih had asked him to suggest nine apolitical but respected individuals from the north who will help mobilize their subjects for hitch free 2015 general election.

In an exclusive chat with Vanguard, Yakassai said that “Yes, myself and 8 others collected ₦53m from Chief Tony Anenih to pay advocacy visit to prominent northern emirs to mobilize their subjects for a hitch-free 2015 general elections.”

One of the named beneficiaries, Chief John Mankilik has denied knowledge of the source of the money.

The former Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari declared that the ₦53m disbursed to his team by the former Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) leader catered to the group’s members allowances, transportation and accommodation on a tour that took them to 18 states in the north.

Yakasai, who vehemently denied linkage between the fund and campaigns for former President Jonathan, listed former minister of state, Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada and Alhaji Suleiman Lawal as beneficiaries of Anenih’s largesse.

Other top respected northern individual, according to him that benefited from the largess included Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi.

Yakasai had last week denied ever receiving financial patronage from the Jonathan administration in an interview with Vanguard.

He had, in the interview, said; “I want to make it categorically clear that no officials of the last regime either Mr. Jonathan, his lieutenant, agents, contractors or person having links or relationship with the last administration gave me cash on behalf of that regime.”

Yakasai, who celebrated his 90th birthday last year disclosed that they visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the emir of Gwandu.

Others visited were the emirs of Anka, Ilorin, Nassarawa, Minnie, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia and representatives of emir of Daurawa.

Also visited were the Tor Tiv, the Gwom Gbom Jos, Ohimege Igu, Kotonkarfe, Etsu of Abaji, Etsu Nupe and Atta Igala.

But the Secretary of the Committee, Chief John Mankilik, when contacted by Vanguard yesterday denied knowing the source of the fund or how it was spent.

According him, “I was in the Committee, he (Yakassai) was the Chairman and I was the Secretary. He never gave me any money except when we were traveling, he only gave us the money we needed for the journey.

“He never told me the source of the money or how he was spending it, he was the one who knew everything, he should explain how he spent whatever was given to him.”

Anenih Writes EFCC On How He Shared ₦260m

‘Yakassai got ₦63m’

Metuh quizzed 

The Nation reports that former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT) chair Tony Anenih has explained how he disbursed the ₦260 million paid into his bank account from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) believes the cash came from the allegedly misappropriated US$2.1 billion arms funds.

Anenih wrote to the EFCC to state, among others, that he gave ₦63 million to a group coordinated by a former Special Assistant to former President Shehu Shagari (National Assembly Liaison), Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, for the 2015 presidential election.

Yakassai may be invited for interrogation over the “curious” payment, it was learnt yesterday.

Anenih was said to have told EFCC that he didn’t benefit from the money, but that he only shared it, following instructions.

Also yesterday, EFCC detectives grilled PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh for nine hours over alleged ₦1.4billion traced to a company in which he has a stake. The cash is believed by the EFCC to be part of the US$2.1 billion arms funds.

There were indications that Metuh might be detained by the agency.

According to sources, Metuh was arrested at about 9am at his Abuja home by three operatives.

At about 9.30am, he was taken into the interrogation room where he was confronted with some allegations, including evidence of transactions, for his reaction.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Metuh has been busy in the last nine hours writing a statement on some issues we have isolated for him.

“We have asked him to respond to the payment of ₦400million into Destra Investment Limited, a company he has high stake in.

“Metuh is also expected to explain some suspicious lodgments into the account of the company by some individuals and a company with link to one of the firms which was involved in arms procurement.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “We are yet to freeze the account of Destra Investment Limited but we will do so.

“Already, the EFCC is collaborating with all relevant banks in this regard. We will invoke the relevant section of the EFCC Act on the account soon.”

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Metuh was being interrogated.

The EFCC has started investigating alleged “curious” payment of ₦63million to a group led by Yakassai for the 2015 elections.

It was learnt that the probe followed a letter to the EFCC by a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, on how he distributed the ₦260million paid into his account by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

A highly-placed source in EFCC said: “Chief Tony Anenih has written the EFCC on how he disbursed ₦260million from ONSA to various groups including a team being coordinated by Tanko Yakassai.

“Anenih specifically indicated in the letter that N63million was given to Yakassai’s group. He mentioned a few others whose identities we will not disclose until our investigation has reached an appreciable stage.

“We will unveil the names of all the beneficiaries of the N260million soon. But we are at a level that we need to invite Yakassai to shed more light on why his group was allocated ₦63million arms funds.”

The source also added: “Besides the letter, we will invite Anenih to make a Statement on Oath and for interrogation.”

One of the charges against a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and a former Director of Finance and Administration this office, Shaibu Salisu, was the transfer of ₦260million to Anenih.
The charge said: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)  on or about 28th November 2014  in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of ₦260million being part of the funds in the account of the ONSA with Skye Bank Plc committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account of Tony Anenih with First Bank of Nigeria Plc and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.”