Except for any last minute changes, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Tuesday commence the trial of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed, and his son, Abbah, over allegations of corruption.
EFCC’s operatives arrested Abbah on Saturday, ahead of his arraignment. Meanwhile, Haliru Mohammed is said to be on admission in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.
Mohammed, who at different occasions was at the helms of affairs in the Nigerian Customs Service, and former Defence Minister, was reported to have been too weak to appear before the EFCC in preparation for his arraignment.
According to reports, accusing fingers were pointed at Mohammed in the N31 billion funds said to have been distributed to some PDP stalwarts for the 2015 election campaign by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Presently, the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, immediate past Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda and eight others are currently facing trial in two separate courts in the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory.
Specifically, Yuguda agreed paying almost N300 million into the account of BAM Properties, which was made available by Haliru Mohammed. Information has it that the funds in BAM Properties’ account were traced to the ex-PDP National Chairman and his son. It was further gathered that about N600million was allegedly credited to Abbah.
According to a Statement of Witness/Caution which Yuguda wrote on oath, he declared to the anti-graft agency that he gave N600million cash to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilization Committees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general election.
Those he listed as the beneficiaries are: Bode George (South-West); Amb. Yerima Abdullahi (North-East); Peter Odili (South-South); Attahiru Bafarawa (North-West); Jim Nwobodo (South -East); Ahmadu Ali (North-Central).
But, George, Nwobodo and Odili have since refuted the claims made by from Yuguda.
Specifically, Bode George admitted that only $30,000 was given to the South-West Contact and Mobilization Committee.
Yuguda further revealed that he gave instruction to Jabbama Limited to effect transfer to the tune of N300million to BAM Properties whose account was given to him by a former National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru.
It was only former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa that admitted collecting N100million from Yuguda through Sagir Attahiru.
Yuguda’s official statement also revealed that “Bello Sarkin Yaki was among the people that the then NSA instructed that I send the sum of N200million to. He was the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kebbi State.”
“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.
“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 a 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 endeavor 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 cross check.”
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