A former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, is
angry with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for
allegedly singling him out for trial over the N600million cash
given to six leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by a
former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.
The ex-governor wants to know why Chief Jim Nwobodo
(South-East), Dr. Peter Odili (South-South), Chief Bode George
(South-West), Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi (North-East), and Col. Ahmadu
Ali (North-Central) who allegedly shared in the money are excluded
from trial.
He says each of the presidential election contact chairmen for
the six (6) geo-political zones was given N100million.
Bafarawa, in a petition on his ordeal to the Attorney-General of
the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) alleged selective
corruption prosecution against “my son, Sagir Attahiru and I by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”
He said the action of the anti-corruption agency “leaves little
to be desired and is discriminatory against me.”
Continuing, he said: “In 2015, I alongside five (5) other
persons was among other presidential election contact Chairmen for
the six (6) geo-political zones in the country.
“The six persons appointed were Sen. Jim Nwobodo (South-East),
Dr Peter Odili (South-South), Chief Bode George (South-West),
Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi (North-East), Col. Ahmadu Ali
(North-Central) and myself (North-West). We were given N100million
each by a former Minister State Finance, Bashir Yuguda and were
directed to disburse same to the state elders of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in our zones for campaign expenses.
“We were not given any information that it was Federal
Government money but since this happened after PDP has raised money
for campaign I believed it was from it that this money was given to
us.
“l am Nigerian citizen and a senior at that. That manner in
which the EFCC has persecuted me in the name of prosecution is a
cause for alarm. May I note that I am not saying I am above the law
but I think it is only conscionable for me to be tried for whatever
offence I am accused of committing within the ambits of the law
instead of the media trial I have been subjected to in the hands of
EFCC.
“What is the rationale to single me out for prosecution while
others in the same category with me are left not prosecuted. What
is the rationale of EFCC to be prosecuting me without investigating
and prosecuting those who are the beneficiaries of the funds.
“In a civilized society, I ought to be a witness to the
prosecution to enable the government get its money back from the
people whom I paid assuming it is Federal Government’s money.
“I urge the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice
to conduct an investigation into this complaint and make the
necessary recommendations so that my family will stop being dragged
in the mud and to enable the cause of Justice have its proper
way.”
Bafarawa, who released the list of those he gave his own share
of N100million, said he added extra N200, 000 to what was disbursed
to him by the ex-Minister.
He said: “On my part, I disbursed the said money to PDP Chairmen
in my zone with even an additional N200, 000 totaling N1.2million
only between January 12, 2015 and March 17,2015. Upon which I am
expecting a refund before my arrest.”
He listed the beneficiaries as:
Kebbi State: Abdullahi Yelwa—0050222873 – Access Bank Mobile No.
08037882327 (N15,600,000.00) 12/1/2015 (Transfer)
Jigawa State: Bashir M. Daihatu—1003873037 Zenith Bank Mobile No
08063029297 (N15,600,000.00) 12/02/2015 (Transfer )
Zamfara State: Bala Mohammed Mande 1001340999 Keystone Bank Mobile
No. 07064886648 (N15,700,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer )
Kaduna State: Senator Musa Bello-0025256324 -Diamond Bank Mobile
No. 08033078989 (N16,200,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer )
Kano State: Habibu Shuaibu—1002417106 Zenith Bank Mobile No.
08033243111 (N15,100,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer )
Katsina State: Amb. Adamu Saidu Daura—1002074068 Keystone Bank
-Mobile No. 08032877665 (N15,700,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer)
Sokoto State: Engr. Mohammad Tori —Mobile No. 08035868876
(N3,300,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Cash)
J Sokoto State : Ahmad Mohd Gusau -Mobile No. 08033034233
(N3,000,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Cash)
“It is thus baffling to see that l was the only one who was
arrested and being prosecuted for an offence I did not commit. The
money l got was meant for the purpose of the 2015 elections and
same was utilized for the purpose.
“The EFCC did not deem it fit to invite the persons to which I
disbursed the money to. Just like the others, I am an agent of a
disclosed principal but due to whatever personal scores the EFCC
has with me, I am the only one who has been made a subject of
ridicule by the EFCC.
“You will recall that a chieftain in Ondo State, Chief Olu
Falae, also got some certain amount of money but the EFCC has not
deemed it fit to prosecute him. What made my case worse is the fact
that I did not spend a kobo for myself in the said sum of money but
disbursed it as instructed.
“ The Gestapo manner with which the EFCC operatives stormed my
apartment at 6.00am on 19th November, 2015 at Usuma Street Maitama,
Abuja is one which would create an impression that l have committed
a capital offence even when l have not committed any. The
operatives neither presented a warrant of arrest nor a court order
giving them authority to arrest me.
“Fortunately, l was not in the country when this happened but
through phone call l caused my lawyers, Lateef Fagbemi SAN & CO
to write a letter to the EFCC on the 25th November, 2015 informing
them of my intention to honour the invitation on my return to the
country while also protesting the illegal invasion of my house.
“The letter is hereto attached as Annexure B for your attention.
Upon my return to the country, | honoured the EFCC invitation on
1St of December, 2015 and l was detained for 3 weeks at the EFCC
office before I was transferred to Kuje Prisons on the 22nd
December, 2015, l was however released on bail.
“My travails in the hands of the EFCC continued despite the fact
that I stated to the EFCC quite categorically how I disbursed the
money in question on the instruction of the party. I gave EFCC
names of persons I gave the money to, their bank account numbers
(to which I disbursed the money) and their addresses.
“What I expected and what would have been the right thing to do
was to invite the persons whom I disbursed the money to confirm the
veracity or otherwise of my statement.
“The attempt by the EFCC to smear my hard earned name has been
extended to my son, Sagir Attahiru, who disbursed funds
(N4.5billion) given to him by NSA office only based on the
instruction of the NSA.
“He was arrested by the EFCC on the 24th November, 2015 and
detained for over a month and four days both at EFCC cell and Kuje
Prisons before his release on bail on 28th December, 2015.
“My son, Sagir, only acted on the express instruction of Col.
Dasuki as can be seen from the document which he has submitted to
the EFCC.”
A former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, is
angry with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for
allegedly singling him out for trial over the N600million cash
given to six leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by a
former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.
The ex-governor wants to know why Chief Jim Nwobodo
(South-East), Dr. Peter Odili (South-South), Chief Bode George
(South-West), Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi (North-East), and Col. Ahmadu
Ali (North-Central) who allegedly shared in the money are excluded
from trial.
He says each of the presidential election contact chairmen for
the six (6) geo-political zones was given N100million.
Bafarawa, in a petition on his ordeal to the Attorney-General of
the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) alleged selective
corruption prosecution against “my son, Sagir Attahiru and I by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”
He said the action of the anti-corruption agency “leaves little
to be desired and is discriminatory against me.”
Continuing, he said: “In 2015, I alongside five (5) other
persons was among other presidential election contact Chairmen for
the six (6) geo-political zones in the country.
“The six persons appointed were Sen. Jim Nwobodo (South-East),
Dr Peter Odili (South-South), Chief Bode George (South-West),
Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi (North-East), Col. Ahmadu Ali
(North-Central) and myself (North-West). We were given N100million
each by a former Minister State Finance, Bashir Yuguda and were
directed to disburse same to the state elders of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in our zones for campaign expenses.
“We were not given any information that it was Federal
Government money but since this happened after PDP has raised money
for campaign I believed it was from it that this money was given to
us.
“l am Nigerian citizen and a senior at that. That manner in
which the EFCC has persecuted me in the name of prosecution is a
cause for alarm. May I note that I am not saying I am above the law
but I think it is only conscionable for me to be tried for whatever
offence I am accused of committing within the ambits of the law
instead of the media trial I have been subjected to in the hands of
EFCC.
“What is the rationale to single me out for prosecution while
others in the same category with me are left not prosecuted. What
is the rationale of EFCC to be prosecuting me without investigating
and prosecuting those who are the beneficiaries of the funds.
“In a civilized society, I ought to be a witness to the
prosecution to enable the government get its money back from the
people whom I paid assuming it is Federal Government’s money.
“I urge the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice
to conduct an investigation into this complaint and make the
necessary recommendations so that my family will stop being dragged
in the mud and to enable the cause of Justice have its proper
way.”
Bafarawa, who released the list of those he gave his own share
of N100million, said he added extra N200, 000 to what was disbursed
to him by the ex-Minister.
He said: “On my part, I disbursed the said money to PDP Chairmen
in my zone with even an additional N200, 000 totaling N1.2million
only between January 12, 2015 and March 17,2015. Upon which I am
expecting a refund before my arrest.”
He listed the beneficiaries as:
Kebbi State: Abdullahi Yelwa—0050222873 – Access Bank Mobile No.
08037882327 (N15,600,000.00) 12/1/2015 (Transfer)
Jigawa State: Bashir M. Daihatu—1003873037 Zenith Bank Mobile No
08063029297 (N15,600,000.00) 12/02/2015 (Transfer )
Zamfara State: Bala Mohammed Mande 1001340999 Keystone Bank Mobile
No. 07064886648 (N15,700,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer )
Kaduna State: Senator Musa Bello-0025256324 -Diamond Bank Mobile
No. 08033078989 (N16,200,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer )
Kano State: Habibu Shuaibu—1002417106 Zenith Bank Mobile No.
08033243111 (N15,100,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer )
Katsina State: Amb. Adamu Saidu Daura—1002074068 Keystone Bank
-Mobile No. 08032877665 (N15,700,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Transfer)
Sokoto State: Engr. Mohammad Tori —Mobile No. 08035868876
(N3,300,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Cash)
J Sokoto State : Ahmad Mohd Gusau -Mobile No. 08033034233
(N3,000,000.00) 12/01/2015 (Cash)
“It is thus baffling to see that l was the only one who was
arrested and being prosecuted for an offence I did not commit. The
money l got was meant for the purpose of the 2015 elections and
same was utilized for the purpose.
“The EFCC did not deem it fit to invite the persons to which I
disbursed the money to. Just like the others, I am an agent of a
disclosed principal but due to whatever personal scores the EFCC
has with me, I am the only one who has been made a subject of
ridicule by the EFCC.
“You will recall that a chieftain in Ondo State, Chief Olu
Falae, also got some certain amount of money but the EFCC has not
deemed it fit to prosecute him. What made my case worse is the fact
that I did not spend a kobo for myself in the said sum of money but
disbursed it as instructed.
“ The Gestapo manner with which the EFCC operatives stormed my
apartment at 6.00am on 19th November, 2015 at Usuma Street Maitama,
Abuja is one which would create an impression that l have committed
a capital offence even when l have not committed any. The
operatives neither presented a warrant of arrest nor a court order
giving them authority to arrest me.
“Fortunately, l was not in the country when this happened but
through phone call l caused my lawyers, Lateef Fagbemi SAN & CO
to write a letter to the EFCC on the 25th November, 2015 informing
them of my intention to honour the invitation on my return to the
country while also protesting the illegal invasion of my house.
“The letter is hereto attached as Annexure B for your attention.
Upon my return to the country, | honoured the EFCC invitation on
1St of December, 2015 and l was detained for 3 weeks at the EFCC
office before I was transferred to Kuje Prisons on the 22nd
December, 2015, l was however released on bail.
“My travails in the hands of the EFCC continued despite the fact
that I stated to the EFCC quite categorically how I disbursed the
money in question on the instruction of the party. I gave EFCC
names of persons I gave the money to, their bank account numbers
(to which I disbursed the money) and their addresses.
“What I expected and what would have been the right thing to do
was to invite the persons whom I disbursed the money to confirm the
veracity or otherwise of my statement.
“The attempt by the EFCC to smear my hard earned name has been
extended to my son, Sagir Attahiru, who disbursed funds
(N4.5billion) given to him by NSA office only based on the
instruction of the NSA.
“He was arrested by the EFCC on the 24th November, 2015 and
detained for over a month and four days both at EFCC cell and Kuje
Prisons before his release on bail on 28th December, 2015.
“My son, Sagir, only acted on the express instruction of Col.
Dasuki as can be seen from the document which he has submitted to
the EFCC.”