N1.28b spent on cars for Secondus, others– EFCC

10 min read 1,828 words 3 views

DID the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince
Uche Secondus benefit from a multi-billion naira oil cash during
the Jonathan administration?

Documents from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), obtained by The Nation, yesterday showed that N1.28 billion
was spent on acquiring exotic vehicles for him and two others.

The others are one of his predecessors, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and
Senator Albert Bassey.

A breakdown showed that Secondus got vehicles or gifts worth
N310million-N472.5million; Mua’zu, N504, 500,000 and Bassey,
N303m.

But in a swift reaction last night, Secondus described the
allegation as continuation of his media trial.

“We are already in court on some of these allegations. If
anybody has anything to prove, let him go to court. We know that
this is a continuation of blackmail and media trial against the PDP
national chairman,” his spokesman Ike Abonyi said.

Also, about N250million was traced to Secondus as remittance in
two tranches from the Office of the National Security Adviser
(ONSA).

ONSA said out of the cash, N50million was collected by Uche
(Secondus) on November 7, 2014 and one Chukwurah, who was a Special
Assistant to Secondus, picked the balance of N200million in cash,
on February 9, 2015.

The desk officers who handed over the cash to the beneficiaries
have made statements to the EFCC.

One of them said: “The money (N50million) was paid to Uche
Secondus but the purpose was not known. It was based on the
directive of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dasuki.

“One could remember that a payment of N200million was made to
Uche Secondus as directed by the former NSA. The purpose was
unknown.”

All the payment vouchers, especially a vital one tagged 0244,
have been retrieved by EFCC from ONSA.

Mua’zu, who is tagged as being on the run, it was learnt, may be
watch-listed on how he came about the N504.5million worth of
vehicles.

The EFCC declared that “Secondus still has a case to answer
because he is on bail.”

According to the fact-sheet obtained from the anti-graft
commission, the vehicles were purchased from Skymit Motors from the
proceeds of what was due to the nation from the Strategic Alliance
Agreement between Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited
and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company(NPDC).

Some of the proceeds were initially diverted to Expedia Marines
from where payments were made to Skymit Motors.

The documents indicated that 50 vehicles were purchased for
Secondus between June 28, 2013 and November 2014.

The fact-sheet reads in part: “As part of the investigation of
Strategic Alliance Agreement between Atlantic Energy and NPDC, the
EFCC team discovered that part of the proceeds of crude oil lifting
were diverted to Expedia Marines and from the company several
payments were made to a company called Skymit, which deals in
assorted vehicles.

“About 55 vehicles were bought for Secondus as
follows:

10 Hiace High Roof @N8.5million each-8/4/14;
15 Hiace Mid-roof @ N8.5million each;
25 Hiace High and Mid-roof @ N210million;
Range Rover Autobiography @N50million
Mercedez G63 @N36m (28/6/2013;
2 Toyota Hilux(D-Cabin Pick Up) @ N14million (8/4/14)
“Secondus was invited on February 23, 2016 in respect of
investigation into alleged case of fraud and money laundering. He
made a statement and he was granted bail on March 2, 2016.

“His case is still under investigation in spite of the fact that
part of the case has been charged to court. Secondus withdrew his
first surety, Dr. Musa Hassan Gusau of the National Commission for
Mass Literacy and brought in a new surety, Mr. Daniang Peter Dajan,
the Director, General Services of the Federal Ministry of Labour.
He is on bail and the surety is still there for him. The condition
of the bail is very clear: That Secondus will be invited when
required and he must honour the invitation.”

In his statement to EFCC, Secondus wrote: “All these gifts came
to me from the Chairman of Atlantic Energy, Chief Jide Omokore over
the years.

“I am not aware of the proceeds from Strategic Alliance
Agreement being used to purchase the gifts.”

On Mua’zu, a former governor of Bauchi State, the EFCC said the
vehicles allegedly bought for him included: Mercedez
G-63@N45million(19/5/14); Many vehicles @N247,500,000 (26/6/14) and
another set of vehicles @ N212million on 14/814.

“The suspect is still on the run, the EFCC has not been able to
interact with him,” the document said.

On Bassey, who was a Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom
State, the EFCC uncovered how the following vehicles were made
available to him by Atlantic Energy which allegedly paid for them
from oil cash.

BMW X 5BP(Bullet Proof)@ N50m on 13/5/10
Infinity QX 5BP @ N45m (10/12/12)
Range Rover @N40m (17/3/14)
5 Toyota Hiace High Roof@ N43m(9/6/14)
6 Toyota Hilux D/Cabin @N6.2m= N42m(15/9/14)
Set of vehicles @N83m (19/12/14)
In his statement on oath, Bassey said: “The vehicles are gifts from
Jide Omokore on the need to ensure my personal safety. I have known
him for 19 years since 1997. They are also contributions to my
governorship campaigns in 2014.”

A top source in EFCC said: “We have subsequently invited Senator
Bassey twice but he has refused to honour our invitation. He was
expected to come for interaction on Monday(yesterday) but he did
not show up.”