EFCC sues firm, MD over alleged N1.275b ‘gift’ to PDP

The Economic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC) has filed
charges at the Federal Capital Territory High Court against
Stallion Motors Limited and its Managing Director, Hapreet Singh,
for allegedly offering a gratification of N1.275 billion to the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 polls.

A former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and
ex-Minister of Finance Mr. Bashir Yuguda allegedly collected the
money for the party.

The two suspects will face a four-count charge bordering on
alleged bribery and gratification.

The bribe cash was, however, suspected to be “assistance” to PDP
for 2015 general election.

The EFCC also suspected that the payment was an inducement to
facilitate payment by the Office of National Security Adviser
(ONSA) for a contract for the supply of some 700 trucks and 50
buses.

But the PDP, in a letter to EFCC, denied receiving such a
gratification from Stallion Motors.

The development has made the anti-graft agency to probe the
whereabouts of the cash.

According to investigation by the anti-graft agency, the bribe
sum was routed through a Bureau De Change, Jabbama Ada Global
Ventures Limited.

The owner of the said BDC, SalisuGarus, admitted on oath that he
received the cash on behalf of Yuguda.

He said based on Yuguda’s instruction, he handed over the dollar
equivalent of the cash to the ex-Minister’s son, Safinu.

A top source said: “We have filed charges against Stallion and
its MDHapreet Singh in the High Court of Federal Capital
Territory.

“Stallion between December 2014 and February 2015 paid the sum
of N1.275billion to Dasuki ostensibly to assist in the 2015 general
election campaign of the People’s Democratic Party.

“The MD of Stallion(Singh) allegedly claimed that the PDP,
through Yuguda and Dasuki, demanded for donation to assist the
party prosecute its campaign in the 2015 general election.

“The fund was paid to Jabbama Ada Global Ventures Limited, a
Bureau de Change (BDC). SalisuGarus, who is the owner of the BDC,
claimed he received the funds on behalf of Bashir Yuguda, a former
Minister of State for Finance, at whose instruction the money was
changed into dollars and handed over to his son, Safinu Bashir
Yuguda.

“When the former minister was invited for questioning, he
admitted receiving the money from his son but, added that he
“handed the entire sum to Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).”

“The former NSA, the source disclosed, claimed that a former
minister directed him to contact the owners of Stallion Motors
because they had promised to make contributions to the election
campaign of the PDP.

He consequently mandated Yuguda to collect the money.”

But the EFCC said it was suspecting that the payment was an
inducement to facilitate payment for the supply of some 700 trucks
and buses.

The contract was awarded by the Office of National Security
Adviser (ONSA).

The source added: “Detectives suspected that the bribe was
allegedly paid by the auto marketing firm to induce payment of a
contract by the Office of National Security Adviser under Mr. Sambo
Dasuki for the supply of 700 Stallion carrier trucks and 50
buses.”

Though the value of the contract is not stated, military sources
disclosed that the vehicles were not on the priority list of the
Federal Government’s need at the time.

But only 50 of the vehicles were allegedly supplied by the
company and while payment was still ‘hanging’, the company donated
the N1.275billion to the PDP.

“This suspicion was more or less confirmed as the PDP, in a
January 26, 2018 letter to the EFCC and signed by Prince
TunjiAdeyemo, its Acting National Director of Finance, denied
having any relationship with Stallion Nigeria Limited.

“The party had at no time requested and or solicited for any
fund as donation towards the 2014/2015 general electioneering
campaign or for any other purpose whatsoever from Stallion Nigeria
Limited,”Adeyemo said.

A source in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
gave insights into how the Office of the National Security Adviser
(ONSA) came about the contract.

The source said: “Stallion is a Nigerian company and it was
among those local firms into vehicles manufacturing in the
country.

“The auto policy of the government was to patronise the local
companies like the case with the patronage of Innoson Motors.

“The contract was never consummated and that was at the peak of
Boko Haram attacks when the government needed all the facilities
and military vehicles to prosecute the war.

“Don’t forget that they bought Volkswagen and there was a
problem with it. But members of the National Council on
Privatisation (NCP) solved it.”

The Economic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC) has filed
charges at the Federal Capital Territory High Court against
Stallion Motors Limited and its Managing Director, Hapreet Singh,
for allegedly offering a gratification of N1.275 billion to the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 polls.

A former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and
ex-Minister of Finance Mr. Bashir Yuguda allegedly collected the
money for the party.

The two suspects will face a four-count charge bordering on
alleged bribery and gratification.

The bribe cash was, however, suspected to be “assistance” to PDP
for 2015 general election.

The EFCC also suspected that the payment was an inducement to
facilitate payment by the Office of National Security Adviser
(ONSA) for a contract for the supply of some 700 trucks and 50
buses.

But the PDP, in a letter to EFCC, denied receiving such a
gratification from Stallion Motors.

The development has made the anti-graft agency to probe the
whereabouts of the cash.

According to investigation by the anti-graft agency, the bribe
sum was routed through a Bureau De Change, Jabbama Ada Global
Ventures Limited.

The owner of the said BDC, SalisuGarus, admitted on oath that he
received the cash on behalf of Yuguda.

He said based on Yuguda’s instruction, he handed over the dollar
equivalent of the cash to the ex-Minister’s son, Safinu.

A top source said: “We have filed charges against Stallion and
its MDHapreet Singh in the High Court of Federal Capital
Territory.

“Stallion between December 2014 and February 2015 paid the sum
of N1.275billion to Dasuki ostensibly to assist in the 2015 general
election campaign of the People’s Democratic Party.

“The MD of Stallion(Singh) allegedly claimed that the PDP,
through Yuguda and Dasuki, demanded for donation to assist the
party prosecute its campaign in the 2015 general election.

“The fund was paid to Jabbama Ada Global Ventures Limited, a
Bureau de Change (BDC). SalisuGarus, who is the owner of the BDC,
claimed he received the funds on behalf of Bashir Yuguda, a former
Minister of State for Finance, at whose instruction the money was
changed into dollars and handed over to his son, Safinu Bashir
Yuguda.

“When the former minister was invited for questioning, he
admitted receiving the money from his son but, added that he
“handed the entire sum to Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).”

“The former NSA, the source disclosed, claimed that a former
minister directed him to contact the owners of Stallion Motors
because they had promised to make contributions to the election
campaign of the PDP.

He consequently mandated Yuguda to collect the money.”

But the EFCC said it was suspecting that the payment was an
inducement to facilitate payment for the supply of some 700 trucks
and buses.

The contract was awarded by the Office of National Security
Adviser (ONSA).

The source added: “Detectives suspected that the bribe was
allegedly paid by the auto marketing firm to induce payment of a
contract by the Office of National Security Adviser under Mr. Sambo
Dasuki for the supply of 700 Stallion carrier trucks and 50
buses.”

Though the value of the contract is not stated, military sources
disclosed that the vehicles were not on the priority list of the
Federal Government’s need at the time.

But only 50 of the vehicles were allegedly supplied by the
company and while payment was still ‘hanging’, the company donated
the N1.275billion to the PDP.

“This suspicion was more or less confirmed as the PDP, in a
January 26, 2018 letter to the EFCC and signed by Prince
TunjiAdeyemo, its Acting National Director of Finance, denied
having any relationship with Stallion Nigeria Limited.

“The party had at no time requested and or solicited for any
fund as donation towards the 2014/2015 general electioneering
campaign or for any other purpose whatsoever from Stallion Nigeria
Limited,”Adeyemo said.

A source in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
gave insights into how the Office of the National Security Adviser
(ONSA) came about the contract.

The source said: “Stallion is a Nigerian company and it was
among those local firms into vehicles manufacturing in the
country.

“The auto policy of the government was to patronise the local
companies like the case with the patronage of Innoson Motors.

“The contract was never consummated and that was at the peak of
Boko Haram attacks when the government needed all the facilities
and military vehicles to prosecute the war.

“Don’t forget that they bought Volkswagen and there was a
problem with it. But members of the National Council on
Privatisation (NCP) solved it.”