Election 2011: EFCC scrutiny for Atiku, corrupt governors and others
Under periscope:Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s recent nomination and endorsement as Northern Consensus aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may have been doomed even before PDP’s official nomination of 2011 presidential ticket holder takes place.
National Daily has reported a major launch of corruption investigation against the former Vice President as EFCC has swung into action to commence a major national and international probe into Atiku’s financial dealings across the world
Competent sources disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened files on allegation of corruption raised against Atiku and other prominent politicians who have declared their interest to contest the 2011 general election.
The media recently highlighted the list of public office holders, including ten governors who the anti-corruption agency advised their political parties not to choose as candidate to contest the forthcoming election.
Leaving no stone unturned
Sources said that ten serving governors are also being probed by the EFCC for alleged fraudulent activities. It was gathered that apart from the well-known cases of the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PDTF), and privatization of public institutions, the commission may have decided to beam its searchlight on Atiku’s properties in oversea countries such as United States, his foreign accounts including suspected phony accounts held in trust for him by cronies.
Sources said that the commission may have been galvanized by the recent conviction of Theresa Nkoyo, Ibori, wife of former Delta State governor on charges of laundering money for her husband to scrutinize other out-standing cases which had gathered rust as well as pursue fresh lead.
Recently, Atiku was said to have moved his United States of America (USA)-based wife, Jennifer Douglas, and his children to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
When he was asked the reason behind such move, Atiku responded that Jennifer, his fourth wife only went to Dubai to take up a job offer. However, sources suspected that there is the threat of a US arrest warrant hanging on both his neck and that of his wife, Jennifer.
Senate report allegedly accused Atiku and his wife, who is known in America as Jennifer Douglas of laundering over $40 million in suspicious funds into the United States between the year 2000 and 2008.
Code of conduct Bureau
The report further alleged that most of the funds were laundered through wire transfer sent by offshore corporations to US bank accounts, controlled by Atiku and his wife.
Of the $40 million identified in the US investigation, $25 million was reportedly wire-transferred by offshore corporations into more than 30 US bank accounts opened by Jennifer, Atiku’s wife.
Shady deals
Few months after becoming the Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku violated part one of the fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits public officers from having foreign bank accounts and owing assets abroad.
In alleged disrespect for the law, Atiku allegedly bought a mansion in highbrow Potomac, Maryland for $1,750,000 (one million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars) in the name of the controversial Jennifer Douglas.
The US Senate investigation also linked over $2 million transfer from Siemens AG, a German electronics company, into a bank account controlled by Atiku and his wife, Jennifer.
Siemens pleaded guilty in December 2008 for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and paid $1 billion in civil and criminal penalties, but the ‘almighty’ Atikus still claimed no wrong doing.
In several other international money laundry scandals, such as the ones involving Halliburton, Daimler, Willbros and Congress man, William Jefferson, Atiku’s name was not missing. In different climes where credibility, accountability and strength of character oil the wheel of politics, it is most likely that no credible candidate worth his name would want to associate openly with such a controversial businessman, let alone presenting him for an election into a nation’s presidency.
“The EFCC is determined to take the anti-corruption war to the next level by doing something drastic to ensure that only politicians without blemish contest the next election.”
National Daily learned that the EFCC has instructed its investigation unit to liaise with local intelligence agencies and their foreign counterpart to authenticate Atiku’s alleged multimillion US dollars properties in other countries like Britain and Dubai where the former vice president has about fifty houses.
Our sources said that the EFCC would mandate the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), to assist the commission in investigating Atiku’s alleged involvement in fraudulent activities in Nigeria and overseas.
Foreign investigators
“The commission understands that to carry out such a complex position involving a high profile personality like a former vice president you will require the collaboration of respected foreign intelligence agencies like United States Foreign Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Metropolitan Police, London,” an informed source said adding: “The EFCC or NIA cannot undertake a credible and comprehensive investigation of assets and accounts in foreign land without notifying its own anti-crime agencies who may volunteer information available to them.”
Sources said that EFCC has a respectable working relationship with the FBI, London Metro Police and other foreign agencies with whom the commission entered into a pact to exchange intelligence and collaborate in investigation of allegedly corrupt citizens and institutions.
National Daily gathered that the anti-corruption agency may rely on certain information allegedly provided by certain person in Nigeria and some purported Atiku’s acquaintance in United States in the fresh investigation of former vice president who is nursing an ambition to defeat the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan in PDP presidential primary election.
Sources said that some concerned individuals started compiling what is termed as “the Atiku dossier” soon after he emerged as the consensus candidate of the North and are said to have vowed to provide the fresh chic needed by the EFCC to finally nail Atiku and abort his long standing presidential ambition.
“These individuals are made up of those who claimed to have worked closely with Atiku, or friends to some other Nigerians who were one time his business or political associate,” one of the sources said.
Anti-corruption crusade
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Farida Waziri, according to informed sources is seriously committed to re-invigorating the anti-corruption agency following criticism from America-Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and notable anti-corruption institutions across the world.
Waziri is also said to be worried that some concerned Nigerians not only criticize her tenure so far but expressed nostalgic feelings about the Nuhu Ribadu era.
Sources said that Waziri recently carried out surreptitious reorganization in the modus operandi of the commission for greater efficiency.
While she allegedly warned some staff alleged to have dalliance with corrupt public office holders to retrace their steps, she on the other hand was said to have urged the investigation and legal unit to work harder to gain the required knowledge on how to outsmart accused persons who either evade successful prosecution or cause unnecessary delay of case at the trial court.
The EFCC’s alleged resolve to reopen the Atiku cases and investigate fresh clues about the former presidents may also been precipitated by the recent favourable rating of Nigeria by Global Transparency index on corruption, Nigeria dropped from among the countries with high rate of corrupt practices. The EFCC boss is said to be elated by this development and believe the commission can work harder to even improve on its present rating.
Dogged fighter
National Daily learned that Atiku may have had an intuition over the possibility of the EFCC creating an unpleasant roadblock against his presidential ambition. Sources said that the former vice president has allegedly lured the services of some renounced lawyers in readiness for legal fireworks with the EFCC.
“Atiku does not want to be caught unaware. He suspects that the anti-corruption agencies may likely include him in the list of aspiring politicians to be probed before the 2011 general elections.
So, he decided to be battle ready.”
Sources further revealed that Atiku has budgeted several millions of naira to ensure adequate publicity in the media and mobilization of delegates and the electorates as date for the primaries approach.
“I think he seems very desperate to actualize his presidential ambition this time around. He has been trying to succeed since 1992 when he was one of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), presidential aspirants; he eventually stepped down for Chief M.K.O Abiola whose victory at the main polls was annulled in 1993 by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime.
Atiku geared up again for the presidency in 2007 but his efforts was frustrated by his boss, former president Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly because of the third term controversy.
So, Atiku is determined to take his chance this time. He said it is now or never.
He is prepared to break the banks for the financial war chest to challenge Jonathan and then General Muhammadu Buhari later in the electoral process. You know, age is no longer on his side at 65 years,” a knowledgeable source said.
Jonathan’s move
National Daily sources said that the presidency may have gathered reasonable intelligence on EFCC’s fresh investigation of aspiring politicians including Atiku Abubakar.
President Goodluck Jonathan in a veiled reference to Atiku Abubakar recently said he has no account or property overseas. Jonathan who spoke in a facebook message he is loyal to the nation’s economy.
“I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy; I don’t have accounts or property abroad. All my children live and school in Nigeria…” Atiku is yet to tacitly reply to the president’s message.
During the PTDF scandal which pitted him against his former boss, Obasanjo, Atiku was accused of authorizing the placement of about 250 United States Dollars belonging to the institution in some financial institution without adherence to due process.
A federal government administrative panel of inquiry had indicted Atiku over the activities of PTDF which was a parastatal under his supervision.
A senate committee set up to review the panel’s report however clear him but the senate after reviewing the panel’s report again indicted Atiku for allegedly approving the withdrawal of $20 million additional fund requested by Executive Secretary of the Commission, Hamisu Abubakar without the authority of Mr. President.”
A U.S congressman William Jefferson proposed to secure the former vice president’s accent in a multimillion dollars contract to provide high speed internet services to Nigeria over NITEL Copper Wire Infrastructure. The controversial letter from Jefferson was found in the U.S residence of Atiku by FBI operatives.
Jefferson was later exposed as a fraudster following his conviction for using his office to try to enrich himself and relatives through a web of bribes and payoffs involving business ventures in Africa.
Though Atiku was not eventually indicted by the U.S court, the EFCC may decide to look into the book anew for neglected evidence of his possibly infringement of the country’s law and code of conduct for public officers.
In other instances, Atiku allegedly encourage his cronies to purchase choice public institutions like African Petroleum which was then taken over by Peter Eloka Okocha when he was the BPE supervising boss.
Can Atiku the suave and tenacious politician who has survived many political battles escape this renewed polariscope of his political credibility? Time will tell.
Related Posts
Short URL: http://www.emnnews.com/?p=8807
Posted by 
