A fact-sheet from the EFCC indicates
that 11 senators from the north are under probe for alleged fraud. The EFCC has
charged seven other senators from the south to court for alleged financial
irregularities.
A source from the anti-graft agency
says the 11 senators not yet on trial will be prosecuted at the appropriate
time The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating 18
senators for alleged fraud amounting to the tune of N367.5b.
Among the lawmakers being
investigated, seven are currently on trial while some of the cases date back to
10 years, the Nation reports. The cases against the members of the upper
chamber are based a variety of alleged fraud ranging from money laundering,
misappropriation, unexecuted contracts, diversion of public funds to campaigns,
and others to the tune of N367.5billion.
NAIJ.com learnt that a fact-sheet
from the anti-graft agency on Monday, July 17, indicates that 11 of the
senators under investigation are from the north while others are from the
south. According to the fact-sheet, the cases against the lawmakers include:
One or two senators (outside the list) are under investigation for their
alleged involvement in the N19billion and $86million London-Paris Club refund
in which seven governors have been implicated.
An alleged N47billion embezzlement against
a former governor now serving in the Senate, a senator is standing trial for
alleged mismanagement of N1.2billion ecological funds; another allegedly
diverted to other uses N1billion meant for the repair of a collapsed dam.
The cases also include laundering of
N40billion by a senator from the North-East; diversion of N3billion to campaign
by a North-West senator; 149-count charge of mismanagement of N15billion by a
senator from the north-central and the arraignment of a north-west senator for
allegedly N52billion fraud.
There are N9billion case involving a
senator from the South-East; N2.1billion contract fraud by a member of the
upper chamber from the south-south; N10.2billion fraud traced to a senator from
the north-west and N2billion diverted funds credited to a senator from the
north-central.
Two aides of a senator, who is being
probed for alleged illegal deduction of N3.5billion from the London-Paris Club
refund have been quizzed. Three new senators from the North-Central, South-East
and South-West have been under investigation for some infractions, including
alleged stamp duty collection fraud. Confirming the cases against the senators,
an EFCC source who spoke on condition of anonymity said while seven of the
lawmakers are on trial, 11 others will be prosecuted at the appropriate time.
“The case files of all these 18
senators are already with us. Seven of them are already on trial. “But,
certainly, 11 others will be prosecuted at the appropriate time. It may
interest you that some agencies in a few international jurisdictions are
interested in some of the cases against some of these senators.
“It might also interest you that some of these
cases predated the appointment of the present Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr.
Ibrahim Magu. But since continuity is a cardinal principle of the EFCC, Magu
has decided to ensure that the matters in court are pursued to logical
conclusion.
There is also no waiver for all
cases undergoing investigation," the source said. The source however
clarified that Magu had no personal problem with any senator as he inherited
most of these cases. In a related development, it was learnt that the senators
under probe are lobbying for the halt of either their investigation or
prosecution by the EFCC as part of the conditions for supporting Magu.
Meanwhile, a former governor of
Jigawa state, Saminu Turaki, has asked an FCT High Court to commit Ibrahim
Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for
contempt of court. Turaki urged the court to take the action against Magu for
reportedly refusing to release him on bail.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports
that the application was filed before Justice Yusuf Halilu, who is the vacation
judge.
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