Buhari has paid his dues to Nigerians – Presidency
EFCC probes ex-naval chief Jibrin over N1.6bn fraud
The Presidency said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari has paid his dues to Nigerians and that he would win another election resoundingly.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this at a briefing with State House reporters, on the second anniversary of the present administration.
He was joined by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina and the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.
Responding to a question on the complaints of hunger by the ordinary Nigerian, Shehu said ‘there is happiness in the land.’
He said: “The ordinary Nigerian is the most important pillar for the Buhari administration. It is not the rich, and their confidence in the president has remained unshaken all the while. This thing we talk about whistle blower, Nigerians have seen it The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has unravelled the alleged siphoning of over N1.6 billion from Nigerian Navy bank accounts, by a former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, Daily Trust gathered yesterday.
EFCC sources with knowledge of the investigation hinted Daily Trust that money was siphoned through ‘systematic withdrawals’ in a structural format and deposited into accounts linked to Jibrin, while he was CNS.
It was learnt that the funds were moved through two accounts; the Chief of Naval Staff Operations account, (1010560885) with Zenith Bank and OKOGBA Mark Operations account.
The accounts had inflow funding, from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and other sources, between 2012 and 2015 totalled over N135 billion.
The source said four Naval Officers, who were signatories to the bank and Nigerians are happy that their monies that were stolen are being recovered. Look at what we used to have. Boko Haram was active in Abuja. In Kaduna, 20 Okada riders were blown up in one day.
“These were ordinary people. Those who could buy protection for themselves, who could buy bullet proof cars for themselves were not the targets of Boko Haram. It is you and l. Ordinary people who went to church on Sundays, were blown up with bombs.” accounts were questioned by operatives of the EFCC, who have spent over a year painstakingly investigating the financial malfeasance that happened in the Navy during the period.
The EFCC sources stated that prominent among companies which received money from the Nigerian Navy accounts included four companies linked to Jibrin, his wife Mrs Jibrin Lami Ohioma and his associates.
The EFCC said the companies include; Thames Equestrian and Mugabes Integrated Services limited, which received over N900 million through its Zenith Bank Account (1014271761) where Jibrin is said to be a signatory.
Other companies are; Lahab Nigeria Limited which received N471 million through its Zenith Bank account (1014425241), another account named, ‘Hadiza Zainab’ linked to Jibrin’s wife and associates reportedly received over N230 million.
The EFCC has also established that
He said the Federal Government was still detaining a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, because there were many cases against him for which he had not been granted bail.
Shehu also explained that the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim Zakzaky, was still in detention for his own safety, saying there could be violence if he was freed.
On the concerns over alleged ‘coup plot’, Adesina explained Jibrin has never declared his assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as required of public servants.
A letter in response to a 14th May 2017, EFCC enquiry into the status of Jibrin declaration of asset at the CCB, sighted by Daily Trust reporter informed the anti-graft commission that Jibrin never declared his assets as required by law.
It was also learnt that within the period of 2012 and 2015, another former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (rtd) was also linked to alleged illicit transaction from the said Navy bank accounts.
The EFCC said Ezeoba has already returned over N1.8 billion to the EFCC at its Lagos office, which is in the process of final forfeiture, while the agency is still looking to recover over N19 billion from him.
Meanwhile, Jibrin is being prosecuted by the EFCC over a property in Maitama, Abuja allegedly purchased in his name for about N600 million with Nigeria Navy funds. that the recent disclosure by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, was a routine warning to soldiers.
“The army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don’t hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position, let’s take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it,” he said.