The four men-Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Bala Mohammed, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Dr. Reuben Abati, were taken into custody by EFCC at different times but were united in the cell by the common platform of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Reuben Abati served as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Media Adviser, while Fani-Kayode worked towards the end of Jonathan’s tenure as the Spokesman for his Presidential Campaign Organisation. On the other hand, Obanikoro and Bala Mohammed served as Minister of State for Defence and Federal Capital Territory respectively and ended their tenure about two years ago.
But they were hauled to the EFCC on various allegations bordering on mismanagement of public funds, particularly the $2.1 billion cash for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency in the North East.
Obanikoro is linked with the N4.7 billion allegedly traced to firms close to him but he has already spoken out on how he paid the money out to Governor Ayo Fayose and former Osun Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, but it is not clear why the EFCC is still keeping him.
On the other hand, Mohammed is alleged to have awarded contracts worth N8 billion to fronts and also abused a major land swap deal valued at about N1 trillion.
Fani-Kayode and Abati are linked with collecting funds from the ONSA for undisclosed reasons.
But the EFCC confirmed last night that it has granted what it called ‘Administrative Bail” to Abati on conditions that he drops his International Passport and produces a surety of not below the rank of deputy director in the civil service.
A top source in the commission who confirmed the development, however said that the former presidential aide was yet to meet the bail conditions.
“We will continue to keep Abati until he meets the bail terms,” the source told Vanguard.
It was also learnt that while Abati was preparing to meet his bail conditions and return home, the commission had earlier in the day secured a court warrant to further detain Mr. Mohammed for undisclosed number of days.
The source hinted that since his arrival, Mohammed had not given sufficient information relating to the issues he is being accused of and that the commission needed more time to interact with him.
“We have obtained a new warrant to keep Bala Mohammed because we are not yet through with investigating the issues related to him,” the source hinted.
Before then, at around 5 pm yesterday, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, one of the highest elected PDP leaders in the country, visited the four men at the EFCC headquarters to identify with them.
Findings by Vanguard showed that the DSP was received on arrival at the EFCC premises by the EFCC’s Deputy Director, Operations, Umar Abbasm who also took him round.
According to sources close to the visit, Ekweremadu enjoined the four detainees to be of good cheer and to take their ordeal as a leadership challenge that would embolden them as servants of the people.
“I urge you all to be of good cheer and to keep your spirit high because what is happening to you today happened to our great leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other top Nigerians who stood for the good of the people of Nigeria,” Ekweremadu told the four men. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Oh I pity Nigeria. Anyway, its now Birds of a feather flocking together. What is the meaning of the visit?
ReplyDeleteWe have a president who told us on a national TV that stealing is not corruption. As if that was not enough, hear him again, sambo Dasuki who shared 2.2 billion dollars meant for arms to fight insurgency did not steal. What manner of president was indeed Goodluck Jonathan?
ReplyDeleteIn those days when one steals, people distance themselves away from such a person but today, such a person is congratulated, and even bestowed with a chieftaincy title. You see, Deputy senate president is in solidarity with those who have done one wrong or the other against the people of Nigeria. Mr. DSP what exactly are you doing here?
Be bold and come out of anonymous if you are sure of yourself after all the government of the will back you up
ReplyDeletefrank Abia...pls they are still innoncent until court prove them otherwise.
ReplyDelete