18 senators under probe for alleged N367.5b fraud

* Seven lawmakers on trial for ‘money
laundering’

Eighteen senators are under investigation by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N367.5billion fraud,
it was learnt yesterday.

Seven are on trial. Some of the cases date back to 10 years.

A senator is being investigated for alleged stamp duty
infractions.

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.

Our reporter stumbled on a fact-sheet which indicates that 11 of
the senators under investigation are from the North. The others are
from the South.

Those facing trial include two from Northcentral, three from
Northwest, one from Northeast and one from Southeast.

Those being investigated cut across the six-geopolitical
zones.

Most of the N367.5billion alleged fraud border on money
laundering, misappropriation, unexecuted contracts, diversion of
public funds to campaigns, and others.

In one of the cases, a senator is being probed for alleged
diversion of about N108billion while he was a governor in one of
the states in the South-South.

A senator allegedly embezzled about N47billion when he was a
governor. Investigators believe he was aided by his wife and
son.

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 other strands of the fraud 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.

An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “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.”

In response to a question, the source added: “Magu has no
personal problem with any senator. He inherited most of these
cases.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that some of the senators have also
made a “strong case for the discontinuation of either their
investigation or prosecution by the EFCC as part of the conditions
for supporting Magu.

“In one of the lobbying sessions, a senator from the North-East
said he committed no crime to have been subjected to trial by the
EFCC.

“Although a Senator from the North-Central was aggrieved, he was
reported to have said: ‘I won’t block the nomination of Magu
because he is probing me. I have forgiven him. But I know I did not
commit any fraud and I will be vindicated in the end.”

* Seven lawmakers on trial for ‘money
laundering’

Eighteen senators are under investigation by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N367.5billion fraud,
it was learnt yesterday.

Seven are on trial. Some of the cases date back to 10 years.

A senator is being investigated for alleged stamp duty
infractions.

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.

Our reporter stumbled on a fact-sheet which indicates that 11 of
the senators under investigation are from the North. The others are
from the South.

Those facing trial include two from Northcentral, three from
Northwest, one from Northeast and one from Southeast.

Those being investigated cut across the six-geopolitical
zones.

Most of the N367.5billion alleged fraud border on money
laundering, misappropriation, unexecuted contracts, diversion of
public funds to campaigns, and others.

In one of the cases, a senator is being probed for alleged
diversion of about N108billion while he was a governor in one of
the states in the South-South.

A senator allegedly embezzled about N47billion when he was a
governor. Investigators believe he was aided by his wife and
son.

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 other strands of the fraud 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.

An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “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.”

In response to a question, the source added: “Magu has no
personal problem with any senator. He inherited most of these
cases.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that some of the senators have also
made a “strong case for the discontinuation of either their
investigation or prosecution by the EFCC as part of the conditions
for supporting Magu.

“In one of the lobbying sessions, a senator from the North-East
said he committed no crime to have been subjected to trial by the
EFCC.

“Although a Senator from the North-Central was aggrieved, he was
reported to have said: ‘I won’t block the nomination of Magu
because he is probing me. I have forgiven him. But I know I did not
commit any fraud and I will be vindicated in the end.”