• Ex-minister writes EFCC, says “I’ll be available on
February 19th”
• Anti-corruption agency quizzes Sen. Nwaoboshi over N2.1b failed
contracts, 30 undeclared accounts
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to
be running out of patience with former Aviation Minister, Stella
Oduah, over an alleged N9.4billion curious contract involving
her.
The agency believes she has been playing a ‘hide and seek’ game
over repeated invitations to her for questioning in respect of the
allegation.
She may be declared wanted if she continues to be evasive, The
Nation gathered yesterday, although sources said she had informed
the EFCC of her intention to now make herself available on February
19.
The anti-graft agency has already interrogated Senator Peter
Nwaoboshi for alleged N2.1b failed contracts, securing questionable
loan from NEXIM Bank and operating 30 accounts without declaring
same to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Reliable sources said yesterday that Oduah had been invited
thrice in the last seven months over the security contract only for
her to fail to turn up on each occasion.
This development informed the decision of the EFCC to consider
the option of declaring her wanted.
The former minister, according to a fact sheet sighted by The
Nation, is wanted by the EFCC in “respect of investigation into a
N9, 443,549,531.25 contract awarded to I-Sec Security Nigeria
Limited for the procurement and installation of security equipment
in 22 airports across the country.
“The contract was awarded when she held sway as Minister of
Aviation in the administration of ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan.
“There were issues surrounding the contract, including alleged
non-execution of the project in some airports, abandonment of the
contract in a few ones, diversion of part of the contract sum and
suspected case of money laundering.
“These are allegations she is expected to respond to in order to
clear the air on the security contract. She is only expected to
explain her roles.”
Attempts to interrogate Oduah over the last seven months have
failed following excuses from her.
An EFCC source said: “ She was invited on three different
occasions to report for interview on the 13th June, 2017, 29th June
2017 and 13th November 2017 but she failed to honour any of the
invitations.
“Rather than appear to face a panel that was raised by the EFCC
to interrogate her, Oduah, through a letter dated January 5, 2018,
informed the commission that she would honour the invite on January
29, 2018.
“The letter was duly acknowledged by the commission and just as
the investigators were looking forward to her arrival, Oduah played
a fast one on the EFCC with another letter indicating that she
would no longer be available on January 29.
“She cited an invitation by the Deputy Senate President, Senator
Ike Ekweremadu to accompany him to London where he was scheduled to
deliver a lecture at the House of Commons on January 25.
“Oduah stated that her next convenient date to honour your
invitation is 19th February, 2018”.
The source said it was obvious that this suspect “is not willing
to submit herself to the Commission for interview in relation to
the ongoing investigation, which leaves the Commission with a few
options.”
The source added: “The Commission has been very patient with her
but she may be declared wanted if she continues this hide and seek
game”.
It was also gathered that after several efforts, the EFCC has
succeeded in interrogating Senator Peter Nwaoboshi over alleged
failed N2.1b contracts; obtaining loan from NEXIM Bank while still
on the board of the bank; and for operating 30 accounts without
declaring same to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
A source said: “As regards your enquiry, Nwaoboshi finally
presented himself for interrogation by the Commission on 27
November, 2017 and, for two days , was grilled by operatives of the
Commission on sundry allegations bordering on abuse of office,
criminal breach of trust and under declaration of assets.”
Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North in the Senate, is alleged
to have “used his company, Bilderberg Enterprises Limited, to
secure contracts worth N2.1 billion to supply new equipment to two
agencies of Delta State Government but defrauded the state in the
execution of the contract by importing and supplying used equipment
which he passed off as new.”
He is also accused of laundering the proceeds of alleged
criminal activity to acquire properties in Delta State and
Lagos.
Listed among such properties are a 12-storey building at Apapa
in Lagos belonging to Delta State Government which Nwaoboshi bought
for N805million and an N800million warehouse at Apapa Wharf,
Lagos
The 12-storey building property was allegedly acquired through
one of his companies, Golden Touch Construction Project
Limited.
The warehouse is already subject of interim forfeiture by the
EFCC.
Continuing, the source said: “besides, Senator Nwaoboshi
allegedly diverted proceeds of a NEXIM loan to acquiring
properties, objectives which contravene the conditions for which
the facility was granted in the first place.
“The senator equally failed to disclose his interest in about 30
bank accounts in the assets declaration form.
“Preliminary findings indicated that he has a case to answer.
So, he might face trial accordingly.”
• Ex-minister writes EFCC, says “I’ll be available on
February 19th”
• Anti-corruption agency quizzes Sen. Nwaoboshi over N2.1b failed
contracts, 30 undeclared accounts
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to
be running out of patience with former Aviation Minister, Stella
Oduah, over an alleged N9.4billion curious contract involving
her.
The agency believes she has been playing a ‘hide and seek’ game
over repeated invitations to her for questioning in respect of the
allegation.
She may be declared wanted if she continues to be evasive, The
Nation gathered yesterday, although sources said she had informed
the EFCC of her intention to now make herself available on February
19.
The anti-graft agency has already interrogated Senator Peter
Nwaoboshi for alleged N2.1b failed contracts, securing questionable
loan from NEXIM Bank and operating 30 accounts without declaring
same to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Reliable sources said yesterday that Oduah had been invited
thrice in the last seven months over the security contract only for
her to fail to turn up on each occasion.
This development informed the decision of the EFCC to consider
the option of declaring her wanted.
The former minister, according to a fact sheet sighted by The
Nation, is wanted by the EFCC in “respect of investigation into a
N9, 443,549,531.25 contract awarded to I-Sec Security Nigeria
Limited for the procurement and installation of security equipment
in 22 airports across the country.
“The contract was awarded when she held sway as Minister of
Aviation in the administration of ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan.
“There were issues surrounding the contract, including alleged
non-execution of the project in some airports, abandonment of the
contract in a few ones, diversion of part of the contract sum and
suspected case of money laundering.
“These are allegations she is expected to respond to in order to
clear the air on the security contract. She is only expected to
explain her roles.”
Attempts to interrogate Oduah over the last seven months have
failed following excuses from her.
An EFCC source said: “ She was invited on three different
occasions to report for interview on the 13th June, 2017, 29th June
2017 and 13th November 2017 but she failed to honour any of the
invitations.
“Rather than appear to face a panel that was raised by the EFCC
to interrogate her, Oduah, through a letter dated January 5, 2018,
informed the commission that she would honour the invite on January
29, 2018.
“The letter was duly acknowledged by the commission and just as
the investigators were looking forward to her arrival, Oduah played
a fast one on the EFCC with another letter indicating that she
would no longer be available on January 29.
“She cited an invitation by the Deputy Senate President, Senator
Ike Ekweremadu to accompany him to London where he was scheduled to
deliver a lecture at the House of Commons on January 25.
“Oduah stated that her next convenient date to honour your
invitation is 19th February, 2018”.
The source said it was obvious that this suspect “is not willing
to submit herself to the Commission for interview in relation to
the ongoing investigation, which leaves the Commission with a few
options.”
The source added: “The Commission has been very patient with her
but she may be declared wanted if she continues this hide and seek
game”.
It was also gathered that after several efforts, the EFCC has
succeeded in interrogating Senator Peter Nwaoboshi over alleged
failed N2.1b contracts; obtaining loan from NEXIM Bank while still
on the board of the bank; and for operating 30 accounts without
declaring same to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
A source said: “As regards your enquiry, Nwaoboshi finally
presented himself for interrogation by the Commission on 27
November, 2017 and, for two days , was grilled by operatives of the
Commission on sundry allegations bordering on abuse of office,
criminal breach of trust and under declaration of assets.”
Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North in the Senate, is alleged
to have “used his company, Bilderberg Enterprises Limited, to
secure contracts worth N2.1 billion to supply new equipment to two
agencies of Delta State Government but defrauded the state in the
execution of the contract by importing and supplying used equipment
which he passed off as new.”
He is also accused of laundering the proceeds of alleged
criminal activity to acquire properties in Delta State and
Lagos.
Listed among such properties are a 12-storey building at Apapa
in Lagos belonging to Delta State Government which Nwaoboshi bought
for N805million and an N800million warehouse at Apapa Wharf,
Lagos
The 12-storey building property was allegedly acquired through
one of his companies, Golden Touch Construction Project
Limited.
The warehouse is already subject of interim forfeiture by the
EFCC.
Continuing, the source said: “besides, Senator Nwaoboshi
allegedly diverted proceeds of a NEXIM loan to acquiring
properties, objectives which contravene the conditions for which
the facility was granted in the first place.
“The senator equally failed to disclose his interest in about 30
bank accounts in the assets declaration form.
“Preliminary findings indicated that he has a case to answer.
So, he might face trial accordingly.”
Read more https://nairalaw.com/alleged-n9-4b-contract-efcc-may-declare-oduah-wanted/