EFCC turns down Uche Secondus offer, gives him strict directives
– The EFCC insists on collecting the N310 million from Uche Secondus
– The commission turned down Secondus offer to return the 23 vehicles
– The anti-graft agency is still investigating Secondus relationship with the oil baron
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has turned down the offer made by the immediate past acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus.
Prince Uche Secondus, a former acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party is still in EFCC custody.
Daily Post reports that the former acting chairman offered to return the 23 luxury cars he reportedly received from a controversial businessman, Jide Omokore, but was turned down by the anti-graft agency.
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The commission asked him to refund to the Federal Government N310 million, being the worth of the vehicles instead.
It was gathered that the former acting chairman may be in the commission’s custody for a while because his relationship with the said businessman who is an ally of the immediate past minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke is still being investigated.
It was also gathered that the commission’s screening of Secondus’ financial transactions might reveal more information aside the 23 vehicles he reportedly collected from the oil baron. He was quizzed for several hours by EFCC detectives yesterday.
The Nation reports that a source disclosed the progress of the ongoing investigation, saying: “Secondus is still under interrogation because there are fresh clues we are looking into on how diverted oil receipts from the oil magnate were used for logistics for the PDP.
“The Deputy National Chairman of PDP has admitted that he collected the 23 vehicles from the oil baron. At a point during the interrogation, Secondus voluntarily offered to return all the vehicles to EFCC. He said he was willing to retrieve the vehicles from the beneficiaries. The EFCC has asked Secondus to refund N310million cash being the worth of the vehicles.
“We are actually not interested in the vehicles, as the value would have depreciated. Oil revenue was used to buy these vehicles and we are demanding nothing but the N310million. It is left to the suspect to cooperate with our team. We will keep Secondus in safe custody. Apart from making refunds, there are other clues we have which require more interaction with him.”
When the source was asked if the former acting chairman would be charged to court, the source said: “It is not impossible but investigation is yet to be completed.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the development had caused tension in PDP because most of the party leaders were unaware of such gifts.
According to a member national working committee (NWC), some of the party’s leaders are just hearing for the first time that cars were given to the party by an oil baron.
The NWC member who didn’t want to be named said: “The revelation is shocking, the way some leaders of the party hijacked the campaign machinery is baffling. At least, some of us did not get from these vehicles.”
Secondus, who served as the acting chairman of the party’s national working committee (NWC) from 2015 to 2016 was picked up in Abuja on Tuesday following the confession of the chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, who was arrested last week by the EFCC following probe on the payment of fuel subsidy under immediate past minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Alison-Madueke.
In a related development, a source within the EFCC disclosed that the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was still in Lagos as at last night in continuation of interrogation on some funds received from NIMASA.
“The team managing investigation on NIMASA is yet to release him. I think he has a lot to answer on funds got from NIMASA. Badeh will remain in Lagos for a while,” the source said.
The source also hinted that the commission is yet to vacate the restriction order on Badeh’s accounts and that of 17 other top military chiefs arrested over the alleged embezzlement of the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund.
“The investigation of these former and serving military officers is still ongoing. The restriction order on their accounts is yet to be vacated,” the source said.
READ ALSO: Nigerians react to PDP former chairman arrest
The detainees which are the most senior Air Force officer include, AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM JA Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings), four top officers at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) – Air Cdre. A. O. Ogunjobi; Air Cdre. G.M.D. Gwani; Air Cdre. S.O. Makinde; Air Cdre. A.Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
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