The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will soon commence the prosecution of those listed as “looters” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the federal government, TheCable understands.
An EFCC official said presidency has directed the anti-graft agency to “swing into action” as controversies continue over the publication of a looters list by government.
“We are getting the case files ready,” the source said but refused to divulge specific details on those to be charged to court.
Many members of the party which formed government at the centre for 16 years are already facing corruption trial, but some were only quizzed.
But the party has continued to accuse the government of witch-hunting its members, an allegation the current administration denies.
The allegations and counter-allegations on corruption took a new dimension when Lai Mohammed, minister of information, released lists of “looters”last week.
Former governors, ex-senators and those who are not members of the PDP were also listed as looters.
Mohammed had said the government took the action as a response to the challenge of the opposition party.
“The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand… Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact,” Mohammed had said.
Some of the key PDP members on the list were Uche Secondus, chairman of the party; Stella Oduah, senator representing Anambra north; Jonah Jang, senator representing Plateau north senatorial district; and Peter Nwaboshi, senator representing Delta north.
A majority of those mentioned had denied any wrongdoing and threatened to file legal action. Secondus had given Mohammed an ultimatum of 48 hours to withdraw the list and tender an apology.
Responding to the list, Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the opposition party, said his party would expose “looters” in Buhari’s government.
Reno Omokri, a former aide of Jonathan, subsequently wrote an article detailing allegations levelled against some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and top government officials.
Apart from the PDP, critics have accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of being selective in its anti-graft war but the current administration has vehemently defended its record.
Here are the names on the “looters” list:
| NUMBER | NAME | ALLEGATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Former NSA, Sambo Dasuki | $2.1billion military equipment scandal. A total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million British Pounds was allegedly embezzled through his office |
| 2 | Former petroleum resources minister, Dieziani Alison-Madukwe | N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled |
| 3 | Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah | N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion recovered by EFCC in cash and property |
| 4 | Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika | N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far |
| 5 | Alex Barde, former chief of defence staff | N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property |
| 6 | Inde Dikko, former CG Customs | N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties |
| 7 | Air Marshal Adesola Amosun | N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered |
| 8 | Bala Mohammed, former FCT minister | N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured |
| 9 | Senator Stella Oduah | N9.8 billion interim forfeiture order on some property secured |
| 10 | Former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu | N1.6 billion – from NSA |
| 11 | Former Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang | N12.5 billion |
| 12 | Bashir Yuguda, former minister of state for finance | N1.5 billion$829,800 recovered |
| 13 | Senator Peter Nwaboshi | N1.5 billion |
| 14 | Former NSA Dasuki’s aide, Aliyu Usman | N512 million |
| 15 | Former NSA Dasuki’s PA, Ahmad Idris | N1.5 billion |
| 16 | Former Oyo governor, Rasheed Ladoja | N500 million |
| 17 | Tom Ikimi | N300 million |
| 18 | Femi Fani-Kayode | N866 million |
| 19 | Former PPS to President Goodluck, Hassan Tukur | $1.7 million |
| 20 | Nenadi Usman | N1.5 billion |
| 21 | Benedicta Iroha | N1.7 billion |
| 22 | Close ally of former NSA Dasuki, Aliyu Usman Jawaz | N882 million |
| 23 | Godknows Igali | Over N7 billion |
| 24 | PDP chairman Uche Secondus | On the 19th of Feb 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of the NSA. |
| 25 | Former PDP financial secretary | On the 24th of Oct 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of former NSA |
| 26 | Former national publicity secretary Olisah Metuh | On trial for allegedly collecting N1.4bn from the office of former NSA |
| 27 | Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications | On trial for allegedly taking N2.1 billion from the office of the former NSA |
| 28 | Former SSA to president Goodluck Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei | On trial, over N830 million allegedly kept in accounts of four different companies |
| 29 | Former president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin Robert Azibaola | Allegedly collected $40 million from the office of former NSA |
Editor’s note: Most of the persons on the list have denied the allegations.
