$155m Alison-Madueke’s Bribery Scam: We Recovered N15m From INEC Employees
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it has so far recovered N15 million from two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) employees, Christian Nwosu and Yisa Adegoyin, who allegedly received N264 million bribe from former Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election.
An operative of the EFCC, Usman Zakari, who made this claim while testifying in the going trial of the two INEC employees over allegations of corruption and undue enrichment, told the court that N10 million was recovered from Adedoyin while N5 million was recovered from Nwosu.
They were alleged to have conspired to take possession of the sum of about N264 million which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of gratification.
While being led in evidence on Thursday by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness told the court that sometime in 2016, the commission received intelligence that a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, was gratified to the tune of $115 million during the 2015 elections.
Zakari also told the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris that following the intelligence, the commission swung into investigations, and in the course, it stumbled on receipts of payment of money.
He further claimed that following investigations, it was discovered that the first accused (Nwosu) who was the Administrator of INEC in Kwara State at the time, signed for a payment of N264.8million.
The witness alleged that the receipt also had the signature of Adedoyin.
Zakari also stressed that it was based on the receipts of payment that invitations were sent to the accused to appear before the commission.
The witness further testified that, “During interrogation of Adedoyin who reported first to the commission, he told operatives that he signed for the money and handed same to Bashir for onward transmission to other staffs“
According to him, Adedoyin benefited N70 million, Nwosu benefited N30 million while the remaining funds were transferred to the Bashir for onward payment to some ad-hoc staffs.
“We have so far, recovered N10million from Adedoyin, N5 million from Nwosu, as well as title document to landed properties purchased from crime proceeds.
“The source of these monies recovered from the accused, was from the gratification given to the then Minister of Petroleum, for purposes of “interfering” with the course of the 2015 general elections.
“After our interview with the accused at the commission, Nwosu stated that he benefited N30 million, while Adedoyin benefitted N70million and they both promised to return the money.
“Nwosu later made a payment of N4 million, and when he reported later to the commission, paid the balance of N1 million and submitted title document of landed properties acquired,” the witness maintained.
However, attempts by Oyedepo to tender statement made by the first accused in evidence was opposed to by his counsel, Victor Opara, on the grounds that it was not voluntarily obtained.
Opara, therefore, prayed the court for a trial within trial, to test the voluntariness of the said statement.
Justice Idris has fixed October 13 for commencement of the trial within trial.
In the charge, the prosecution alleged that the accused committed the offence on March 27, 2015 by accepting gratification from the ex Petroleum Minister.
The accused were also said to have made cash payments of the sum of about N235 million, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law, without going through a financial Institution.
EFCC alleged that Bashir also made a cash payment of about N70.1 million to Adedoyin without going through a financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law.
The prosecution also alleged that Bashir also directly took possession of the sum of about N165 million which sum he ought reasonably to have known formed part of an unlawful act of gratification.
In count seven, Nwosu was alleged to have directly used the sum of N30 million which he ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of gratification.
The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3), 16 (2) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
