The Federal Government has reacted to the barrage of attacks by some of the named alleged treasury looters and has gone further to name 23 others, who are mostly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a press statement, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the list of alleged looters which government released earlier was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount in question was collected and from where it was taken.
Mohammed, also said those complaining that the list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.
“At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or just to shoot down anything coming from the government,” he said, adding that the Federal Government has a large number of alleged looters on its list.
Mohammed slammed the PDP for daring to challenge the Federal Government over an issue that the party knows is its weakness: Looting of public treasury.
”What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the party’s watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke?
Did they think it is April Fool?” he queried.
The Minister said the PDP’s reaction to the looters’ list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.
”The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party’s rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new leaf.
”It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this, hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it will also not rest until all those who looted the public treasury have been brought to justice.
2nd batch of alleged looters and amount allegedly embezzled
1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: $2.1bn military equipment scandal, a total of N126 bn, over $1.5 bn and 5.5 m British Pounds was embezzled through his office.
2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about N23billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes and royalty worth about $3bn.
3. Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9bn and another N4.8bn recovered by EFCC in cash and property
4. Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.
5. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8bn and EFCC recovered almost N4bn in cash and property already.
6. Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40bn, and N1.1bn in cash recovered in cash and choice property.
7. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4bn. N2.8bn recovered in cash. 28 property and 3 vehicles also recovered.
8. Senator Bala Mohammed, former FCT Minister: N5bn. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.
9. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 bn. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.
10. Former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu: N1.6bn – from NSA.
11. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State governor: N12.5bn.
12. Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5bn. $829,800 recovered.
13. Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5bn
14. Aliyu Usman: former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512m
15. Ahmad Idris: former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5bn
16. Rasheed Ladoja: former Oyo Governor: N500m
17. Tom Ikimi: N300m
18. Femi Fani-Kayode: N866m
19. Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7m
20. Nenadi Usman: N1.5bn
21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7bn
22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882m
23. Godknows Igali: Over N7bn
…party chair, Secondus gives Lai Mh’d 48-hr ultimatum
Emeka Etiaba, lawyer to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has given the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, 48 hours to withdraw his statement against the party leader or face litigation.
A statement issued by Nancy Shikaan, a counsel in the Chambers, quoted Etiaba as making the demand on Saturday in Abuja, in a letter with reference no. EESE&C/1/31/03/18 dated March 31, 2018 addressed to the minister.
The letter was titled “Re:Publication of false and defamatory statement against Prince Uche Secondus”.
He demanded for retraction, apology and payment of N1.5 billion as damages.
The lawyer that the said publication had damaged the image of Prince Secondus as he has been ”humiliated, castigated and vilified by many as a result of the falsehood published by the Minister”.
Shikaan, according to the letter, noted that if Mohammed failed to meet their demand after 48 hours, they shall “within 72 hours from today, proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction to ventilate our clients right under the law.
“We shall further seek the protection of the court against you”.
