As president Muhammadu Buhari continues his anti-corruption fight, fresh trouble is already brewing up for the Goodluck Jonathan administration, as the probe of the past administration by President Buhari has indicted his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, and two of his former officials, over an alleged purchase of three mobile stages to the tune of $6.9million, a Presidency source has said.
The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
According to a document emanating from the presidency on Saturday, the deal, which had become subject of investigation, was allegedly carried out among Jonathan; his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Gordon Obuah; and former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke.
The $6.9 million was said to have been withdrawn for the purpose of buying three units of 40-foot mobile stages for use by Jonathan during mass public speaking events.
According to the document, apart from the fact that the sum for the stages were “incredibly inflated,” there was currently no evidence that the stages were bought since the money was withdrawn.
“While the cost of mobile stages range in size and designs, only outlandish rock star musicians in Europe and the United States spend hundreds of thousands on their huge stages way bigger than the 40-feet stages.
“Even then, those musicians and superstars would not pay over $2m per stage, according to industry sources.
“The process of procurement of the three mobile stages was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations, nor were the offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General in the know, according to the investigators,” the statement read in part.
It added that the phony purchase was carried out late 2011, a few months after Jonathan won a general election for a full term after having completed the term of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Jonathan’s CSO was said to have initiated a memo to the former president on October 17, 2011, asking for the purchase of three mobile stages.
He was reported to have written in that memo to Jonathan that the memo was regarding “regarding my earlier discussion with Your Excellency on the security implication of your public appearances and your subsequent directive on the need to procure a secured presidential platform.”
The Presidency source said on the same day, without any financial advice or purchase order reviews, the former President minuted an approval of the request to buy the three stages to the then Minister for Petroleum Resources.
In his minute, Jonathan was said to have written, “we have discussed this, please deal.”
According to the document, on the same October 17, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administrative Matters, Mr. Matt Aikhionbere, did another letter on the strength of the President’s approval requesting the minister to take action on the request to purchase the stages for $6.9m.
It added, “By the next month, an NNPC payment voucher number 3840336 was already in place revealing that the money was released.
“NNPC directed that the money be taken from one of its accounts in New York CITIBANK, with sort code CITIUS 33, and Routing number 021000089.
“It was first routed from the US bank to an NNPC account in Zenith Bank, with account number 5000026593, Maitama branch in Abuja, from where the money was sent to a private account.
“The sum of $6.9m was then credited to a Sterling Bank account of one J. Marine Logistics Limited, Abuja, a company, investigators say, was registered by Obuah.
“The CSO himself, according to investigators, has not been able to show proof of the purchase and his memo irked his bosses at the SSS that he took the initiative to write requesting for the stages, an action which officials say was way above his pay grade.”
The document added that it was not the duty or responsibility of the CSO to make the determination on that purchase as he was meant to have informed the service, which will then review the situation and act accordingly.
It added that the $6.9million in question was promptly paid on November 29, 2011, into a private account belonging to the former CSO.
“The former President approved the procurement of the mobile platforms without due process and bypassing the Procurement Act; neither was there an appropriation in the 2011 budget for such facility,” the document quoted investigators as saying.
It added that neither the then Minister of Finance nor the Director-General of the Budget Office was aware of the deal.
“Investigators say this is just one of the several instances, where the Jonathan administration used secret NNPC accounts to fund many questionable projects and for alleged personal financial aggrandisement.
“Already, the CSO has been questioned over his role and activities in the Jonathan Presidency. It will be recalled that he was arrested, detained, questioned and later released. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Buharia is a bastard and can never be taken serious again,a tribalistic idiot who have been shouting probe probe since he assumed office without doing a single thing to move the country forward...His plans is to islamize Nigeria but he will be stopped or else,they "ll form their caliphate amongst them
ReplyDeleteWe shall soon know; who is a bastard. ..your plan games can't work. Nigerians are more educated than before.God will judge you soon.
DeleteThank u for replying the fool.
DeleteHow Mr man.corruption ll always fight back
ReplyDeleteCorruption are not fourth on Newspaper but court! Buhari stop working on Nigerians intelligent, all He has done so far is to sack n reappoint
ReplyDeleteI guess this man is on witch hunting campaign. Let's see how he is going to finish. Nigerians needs solutions, probing should be the last on his do lists. Someone should advice him to find a way to move this Country forward. How can the Nigerians trust him when he has given all the key positions to North? Where will the credibility of his probing comes from when it is all his kinsmen that are behind in this probing of his? Nigeria is heading the path of Sudan, Congo, Rwanda etc. Is sad...
ReplyDeleteWell said
DeleteHow can Nigerianeye allow comments like these ones to go on air
DeleteThe online News firm should be checked on
With the fall of oil prices and budget deficit, where is he expected to get funds to prosecute his progressive actions? The fastest way to get money for the government is to recover looted funds hence the probe. We are starting to see that Jonathans administration mismanaged the country's funds. Lets not complain when those we have entrusted with the responsibility of leading us are being made to pay for their mismanagement of our national wealth. I am totally in support of Buhari's actions. We need to get as much money back from the "thieves" not withstanding who they are ex-president or not.
ReplyDeleteWhat have you started seeing?. Probe by news media?. No single productive action by this president since assumption of office. All we are seeing is sacking and appointment of of new helmsmen with no benefit to nigerians. So plus tell your president nigerians need to feel the change. We are tired of just probe here and there with no body convicted or money recovered!
DeleteAnonymous 5:13. Are u blind and can't see the change is already taking place? Can't u see its no longer business as usual? Are u blind to see that most office holders are now sitting up and living to their responsibilities? The toothless EFCC can now bite, the police, customs, even the power holding too, just to mention a few. But I won't blame u if u can't see, cos ur blinded with hatred and sentiments.
DeleteHe is doing all these to divert our attention from the massive looting going on right now. Did he use his money to build helipad in his farm at Daura last month? Very useless and bloody criminal.
ReplyDeleteI are on point
DeleteBuhari is a bastard, touch him and see if that seat will be comfortable........ You bastard boko haram leader
ReplyDeleteYou are right my Dear
DeleteYou r just a tribal bigot. GEJ nd his cohorts that looted the fund of this nation will never get away with it. Their years will be spent in kirikiri maximum prison
DeleteIf Buhari is sincere to his plight he must start from the scratch. He should not spare anyone including himself. Why is he sidetracking pple like Babangida, Obasanjo, Atiku, Abacha, and a whole lot of other cohorts. Why singling out a handful few. Buhari knows exactly the game he is playing which sole aim is to Islamize Nigeria. Hiding under d canopy of probing GEJ administration is just a way of creating diversionary trend to his obnoxious intent. This is very glaring considering his poitiical appointments which favours the north. We are no fools. We know your game plan. But be assured you are starting something you cannot finish.
ReplyDeleteYes o..leave the bustard he knws wht he's doing
DeleteWhn it comes security the president deals with it as he seems fit...so GEJ shld wait for advice before taking any decision?..an elected president? Whose has bn under threat by his rivals?...pls let's be realistic....How many actions of buhari has he called for advice .Let Buhari not distract himself thinking he's distracting us. He shld be busy trying to fulfill his electoral promises than chasing shadows
ReplyDeleteAre Some of these Nigerians writing on this page well? A clear case with evidence has been stated. Instead of them to pity Nigeria and her past leaders, they go spewing insults on the one trying to right the wrongs. I weep for this country. It's problems are systemic and solutions vapourous.
ReplyDeleteIf you read very well between the lines of those comments and accusations vehemently against PMB and his efforts to lay a new foundation for Nigeria and future generations, these peoples are mostly the South East or the Igbos'. They have severally and continuously shown that they do not want to be part of Nigeria and will do everything to ensure its destruction and disintegration. Most of the looting and pillage under GEJ were mostly by their kinsmen and women which is why they are very critical and opposed to any form of probing GEJ's administration. I have a few words for the Igbos...The emergence of PMB was ordained by God through prayers by Millions of suffering Nigerians so we can be freed and saved from the evil men and women who had taken all the collective and sovereign wealth of the people by a handful few, and no matter the weapon, evil wish or obstacle fashion against the protector of the poor (in the person of PMB) shall prosper. And the Igbos can take that to the bank!
DeleteWhen logs of wood fell on each other, a reasonable and smart person will remove the one on top first. Why the hues and cries Nigerian?
ReplyDeleteBashir thank you for your comment we need people like you who just hit the nail on the spot . amina.africa@yahoo.com
DeleteHymn! How do one satisfy humanity?
ReplyDeleteWell buhari, bustard, boko haram all of them starts with a 'B' the young man cld be right #justpassing
ReplyDeleteHis appointments have justified his perspectives and plans for Nigeria. He is the northern Muslims president and not Nigerian president and it will be their party's weak point on next election.
ReplyDeleteAll this fight over the oil in the south east and south south. Did buhari not loot the PTF? Clear evidence shows abacha as a looter yet they defend him. I have a simple solution that will end this mess. DIVIDE THE COUNTRY so people can sober up and realise the theft of the niger delta people's wealth is over.
ReplyDeleteIt's like corruption fighting corruption...How can a man want to cut a tree and leave the roots and concentrate on it branches and fruits...pls I want to ask "how?"
DeleteUhm.... what a revelation? Our perception of this write up should be, ' what am I seeing? ' Funny as it may sound,our perception of issues is better focused after a deep thought. My view of our tomorrow is ; if leaders do the right things; Nigeria will be a better place for us all. O Lord,guide our leaders aright.
ReplyDeleteLet's call a spade a spade...investigation shld be done to knw wht buhari did with govt fund whn he was the ptf boss..or can he deny he did not know about how oil well was shared among some certain group of individual in this country? Obj,abacha,ibb,buhari are all criminals and the root cause of wht we see today ...GEJ knew wht he was saying whn he said "investigation shld be done on how oil well in this country is shared" GEJ shyd away from stepping on so many toes cos wht he saw was too much to say because he remembered how he became the president ...the heroes we claim to have are thieves, how can tinubu and ameachi (imagine ameachi forming a leading a probe for an agency in buhari tenure)and the likes of them be walking free on the street. And u tell me u will eradicate corruption..if buhari will truly eradicate corruption in this country then he must first of all submit himself to kirikiri prison because Buhari is the definition of corruption ...I urge Nigerians not to be deceived with wht the Nigerian govt decides to let them see
ReplyDeleteThis is not the first time we are seeing figures and nobody gets punished at the end of the day. Untill I see pple like Amechi in jail I will start taking this govt serious.
ReplyDeleteA corruption issue has been raised supported with data. The only thing left is to hand the people involved to the relevant body for proper investigation and then the court will take it up from there. GEJ is no longer protected by immunity and more so his then cso is not a spirit he can be reached. if they are found guilty the law will it course. so let's stop reigning invective on each other.
ReplyDeleteEjike you are noting but a fool, I guess you have flexible brain
Delete