Lai Mohammed
The Nigerian government has released more names of alleged looters of the treasury during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, in a statement released to the press, also criticised the opposition PDP for its reaction to the first names of alleged looters he released.
The fresh list by Lai Mohammed contains 23 names.
Read the full statement by the information ministry below:
The federal government has said the list of alleged looters which it
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.
Releasing a fresh list of alleged looters, in a statement issued in
Lagos on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai 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.
Lai 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.
Mr 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.
SECOND BATCH OF ALLEGED LOOTERS AND THE AMOUNT ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED
1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings
alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1 billion military equipment
scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million
British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of
these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any
formal contract awards.
2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke: In
just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about
N23 billion 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. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is
charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local
and international to ensure justice.
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 already.
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 cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.
8. Senator Bala Abdulkadir, 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. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: 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. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million
15. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion
16. Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million
17. Tom Ikimi: N300 million
18. Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million
19. Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million
20. Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion
21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion
22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million
23. Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion
24 Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion.
