Former Minister Indicts Bode George, Odili, Others in N600m Election Scandal

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Former Minister Indicts Bode George, Odili, Others in N600m Election Scandal

By Correspondent

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been informed by former minister of state for finance, Bashir Yuguda, that N600 million was handed down to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general election. The former minister identified the culpable persons as: Bode George (South-West), Amb. Yerima Abdullahi (North-East), Peter Odili (South-South), Attahiru Bafarawa (North-West),  Jim Nwobodo (South -East) and Ahmadu Ali (North-Central). Yuguda revealed that he personally gave instruction to Jabbama Limited to effect transfer of N300million to BAM Properties, adding that he was given the account details by a former National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru. While making the confession in a Statement of Witness/Caution which he wrote on oath, the former minister argued that N200 million was sent to the erstwhile PDP Governorship candidate in Kebbi State, Bello Sarkin Yaki. Yuguda added that a former governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, was also given a sum of N100 million. Yuguda’s statement is expected to be part of the proof of evidence that may be used by the EFCC against the former minister who is slated to face trial this week before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. He is expected to be tried together with former governor Attahiru Bafarawa alongside his son, Sagir Attahiru, and Dalhatu Investment Limited. “For the cash disbursement of N600 million, it was meant for the six zonal chairmen for Contact and Mobilisation Committees for Election of 2015,” Yuguda said. “The chairmen are Bode George, Amb. Yerima Abdullahi, Peter Odili, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jim Nwobodo and Ahmadu Ali. The sum of N100 million was given to each chairman. I gave the money in company of Prof. Alkali, who was Political Adviser to former president. “The zonal chairmen are for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I also instructed Jabbama Limited to transfer the sum of N100m to Dalhatu Limited on the request of Attahiru Bafarawa. “I also remember that Bello Sarkin Yaki was among the people that the then NSA instructed that I send the sum of N200 million to. He was the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kebbi State.” Yuguda also explained how other disbursements were made. “I knew the chairman of Stallion Limited whose second name I cannot remember. Between December 2014 to June 2015, on the instruction of the then NSA, I introduced Jabbama Limited to a staff of the company on the instruction of the chairman,” he said. “When the account was in credit, disbursement was made from time to time on the instruction of the then NSA, part in foreign exchange or transfers. “I wish to add that sometime in February 2015, I instructed Jabbama to transfer the sum of N300m to BAM Properties. The account was given to me by Bello Haliru as one of the people the former NSA requested me to give money. I also remember that Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi was sent the sum of N100million on the instruction of the then NSA. “Further to my statement of 30th November, 2015, I have brought the sum of $829,800(equivalent to N200m) and N600m was given to me to distribute to the six PDP Zonal Committee chairmen. I don’t know who are the directors of Dalhatu Investment Limited but funds were transferred to the company’s account on the instruction of Dalhatu Bafarawa for the total amount of N1.5billion received from the then NSA by Jabbama Limited. “I shall endeavour to recover the sum of N600million given to the six zonal PDP committee chairmen, while I appeal to the commission to use their machineries to trace the remaining balance of the money transferred to various accounts. “I have been shown transaction of N200million from the Office of the Accountant-General to Jabbama which Jabbama said it’s on my instruction but I cannot remember this instruction until I crosscheck.” Part of the charges against Yuguda reads: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bashir Yuguda whilst being the Minister of State for Finance between 5th February and 16th April 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N1.1billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the account of Jabbama Ada Global Services Nigeria Limited for the purpose of financing the campaign of PDP in the 2015 general election and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004. “That you, Bashir Yuguda, whilst being Minister of State for Finance between 23rd December 2014 and 10th February, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: an aggregate sum of $9,809,619 which was an equivalent of the aggregate sum of N1,950,000 belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was transferred to Jabbama Ada Global Services to be converted into the said dollars and you  thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309  of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.” Meanwhile, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Sokoto State governor, agreed that he collected N100 million from Yuguda through Sagir Attahiru. In his statement before the EFCC, he said “I know Bashir Yuguda. He called me to tell me there is money to be given for (sic) the North-West Campaign Committee which I asked how much and he told me is N100 million for the seven states and ask (sic) to give it to Sagir which he did and the money was sent to the states campaign committee between 20th and 21st of February 2015 for the PDP Campaign for General Election. “He did not tell me where the money was coming from. I did not ask him where the money was coming from. “Sagir is my son and I directed Sagir to send the money to state chairmen campaign committee for PDP North-West. “I also received N100 million (dollar equivalent) from the North-West Campaign Committee. The money was given to me in the PDP National Chairman, Alh. Adamu Muazu’s house in Abuja in the presence of all the zonal chairmen as listed ”¦and after collecting all this (sic) money, I gave the money to Abdullahi Yauri who was the Secretary of the North-West Campaign Committee to share to the state chapter and Yuguda didn’t tell me where he got the money from.”

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