Anyim Spends 2nd Day with EFCC over Alleged Diversion of Ecological Funds
.Centenary City project also under investigation
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, who was invited and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday for alleged diversion of ecological funds during his tenure, spent a second day with the anti-graft agency, explaining his role in the said mismanagement.
Anyim, who was also Senate President under Obasanjo, arrived the commission's headquarters in Abuja on Thursday morning following an invitation by the agency.
Sources said that he was subsequently grilled by EFCC operatives about the management of ecological funds during his tenure as the SGF.
Confirming Anyim's detention, EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwijaren said: "Yes, he has been arrested and he's still under our custody."
Uwijaren confirmed that Anyim was being questioned over the alleged “diversion of ecological funds meant for Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja."
Though, the EFCC spokesman will not provide further details whether the commission would also investigate Anyim on alleged corruption surrounding the Centenary City project, which he headed, THISDAY gathered that the commission might also look into the books of the Centenary City and find out whether Anyim was also culpable.
The Ecological Fund headed by a Permanent Secretary is domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), where
The United Kingdom (UK) has emphasised the need for a political solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The 2nd Secretary, Political, Niger Delta and Head of Communication, British High Commission in Abuja, Louise Edwards, stated this on Friday, during a courtesy visit to the Abuja office of THISDAY Newspapers and Arise Television.
Edwards said though the Niger Delta issue was complex with a very long history, there was however relative peace in the area for some time now.
She enjoined both militants and the government to continue to dialogue in order to sustain the ceasefire.
“The Niger Delta issue is a complex one and it’s a long historic issue. But there’s relative peace there for some time now which is a really good thing.
“We are advocating and encouraging a political solution to the problems down in the delta,” she said.
The envoy also advocated the need for the economic development of the region as one of the solutions to the crisis.
“There’s need for economic development in the region and we will encourage the militants and the government to carry on talking to each other for the government to fulfill the promises it has made and for the militants to continue with the Ceasefire.
“We are doing what we can to support the government; we are working with other like-minded nations to sustain the peaceful solution so that the economic solution can come. As you know now economic development can’t take place without peace,” she said.
She disclosed that the UK apart from working in partnership with governments and civil society organisations had been implementing various programmes targeted at sustaining the peace in the region.
She said the visit to THISDAY newspapers was to appreciate the robust coverage the medium had been giving to the embassy and to explore other areas of further collaboration, adding, “We want to start by saying thank you for all the coverage you have been giving to the British High commission and to all our activities.
Similarly, Press and Public Relations Officer, Joe Abuku, expressed the embassy’s interest in partnering with Arise TV, noting that the station already had a large audience in the UK.
He assured that the doors of the embassy and that of other UK offices were always open to THISDAY and Arise TV.