 |
| Former Vice President Namadi Sambo Getty Images |
•Ex-VP may be invited over N20m monthly subvention from ONSA
THE Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend searched the office of former
Vice President Namadi Sambo in Abuja.
The
Nation report continues:
The
anti-graft commission may also grill the ex-VP on the alleged ₦20 million
monthly subventions from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The
EFCC was yet to vacate the office as at yesterday because of the alleged
uncooperative attitude of Sambo’s employees.
It
was learnt that the search was informed by the unusual movement of hefty bags
into the office of Sambo’s Manyatha Company on Saturday.
Although
Sambo has been on EFCC radar over funds allegedly collected from ONSA, the
relocation of the suspicious bags from the home of the ex-VP to the office made
the EFCC to act swiftly.
A
source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ongoing investigation of US$2.1
billion arms cash under ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki has been extended to the former VP.
The search started on Saturday till the early hours of Monday.
“Apart
from getting ₦20 million monthly from ONSA, we got tip-off on movement of some
bags loaded with hard currency.
“All
we did was to investigate this clue by searching the ex-VP’s office in a
cautious manner and in the full glare of the employees.
“At
the appropriate time, we will inform the public of our findings.”
Responding
to a question, the highly-placed source added: “We are also looking at the
circumstances behind the ₦20 million grant allocated to the ex-VP’s office by
the ONSA.
“Ordinarily,
a sitting VP has a budget for his office. It is like subjugating your office to
a junior public officer if you have to be taking ₦20 million from the Office of
National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“We
cannot be blind to this important aspect of monthly grant to a VP by the former
security adviser. Some former presidential aides are also under investigation.”
A
source close to the former VP confirmed the search of the office in Abuja’s
Central Business District (CBD).
The
source said: “The EFCC operatives invaded the Manyatha Company of the former
Vice President on Saturday, broke the doors. The operatives did not come with
any warrant and when they left, there was no record of inventories.
“What
happened was that the ex-VP moved some documents in Ghana-Must-Go bags from his
house to the office in the Central Business District. I think they got false
alarm that dollars were stuffed in the bags and decided to raid the office on
the sixth floor.
“We
share the same office complex with the British Visa Section. Do you know that since
Saturday, the policemen brought by the EFCC are still in the office?
“The
EFCC asked the company to repair its doors before the police could leave the
place.”
On
the alleged ₦20 million collected monthly from ONSA, the source added: “It is a
statutory subvention for the Office of the Vice President. When ex-President
Goodluck Jonathan was VP, he was getting it. The same subvention was given to
ex-VP Atiku Abubakar.
“Ex-VP
Sambo is ready to defend the subvention when necessary. He did not steal public
funds and he did not get campaign funds from ONSA.”
No comments:
Post a Comment