Diezani’s $153m: Former NNPC GMDs, EDs in troubles as EFCC steps in

- EFCC have questioned two former GMDs and three former EDs of the NNPC over their roles in the transfer of $153m to some banks

- Meanwhile, the EFCC has begun the process of seizing a estate in Yenagoa, which was traced to Mrs Alison-Madueke

Operatives of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have questioned two former Group Managing Directors (GMDs) and three former Executive Directors (EDs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over their roles in the transfer of $153m to some banks.

According to a report by The Nation, One of the former executive directors is said to have admitted playing a role in the transfer of the money.

An EFCC source who was quoted in the report said the five ex-officials and a few others had been quizzed in connection with the transfer of the funds.

“We are however not stopping at this bend because we discovered that some of these officials were used for many illicit transactions,” the source said.

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“By the time we extend our investigation to crude oil lifting, you will appreciate the sleaze during the tenure of Diezani as minister of Petroleum Resources. A syndicate was used to perpetrate the fraud in the oil firm.”

An NNPC source also confirmed the interrogation of the former officials.

“This corporation is following the development. The EFCC is on top of the $153million palaver; it has actually been inviting some of our past officials for questioning.

“The good thing is that some of these former officials are still on NNPC’s pension roll. They can be recalled at any time for clarification of some issues.

“Our board is meeting on the $153million saga and other matters on January 30. What we are doing now is to get the proceedings of the Federal High Court of Friday. We have a very articulate Legal Department which will study it.

“NNPC is a corporation with a board and a chairman. The legal advice will determine our next step after the board’s meeting.

“If the court indicts any former officials, the corporation can still exercise disciplinary control on them.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has begun the process of seizing a estate in Yenagoa, which was traced to Mrs Alison-Madueke.

“Since we recorded the breakthrough, our legal unit has been working round the clock on how to seek the nod of the court for a temporary forfeiture order.

“We have obtained relevant data from Bayelsa State Geographic Information System. As a matter of fact, the estate is coded as BGIS/OK/02/16/310 by the agency.

“We will file the required application for the seizure of the estate pending the arraignment and the conclusion of the trial of the ex-Minister. This is a standard benchmark allowed by the law. We are certainly heading for the court," an EFCC spurce said.

Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act read in part: “Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the Court following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules.

“Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the commission may-(a) place the property under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the Commission.

“Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a Court.”

Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 empower the anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.