A Nigerian
state governor has returned N500million found in his account, as the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission probe on the use of the
N388.304billion Paris loan refund deepens.
The EFCC is
probing how N19billion was illegally deducted from the London-Paris Club loan
refund and how the money was shared.
The Nation
reported that four persons are helping the anti-graft agency on its
investigation.
The diverted
money was said to be a consultant fee,
but part of it found its way into the yet unnamed governor’s account.
According to
the newspaper, seven governors allegedly played key roles in diverting part of
the N388.304billion refund into two accounts opened by the Nigeria Governors
Forum (NGF).
“In spite of
the protestation of some governors, the EFCC has decided to conclude the
ongoing probe of the N19billion diverted from the loan refund.
“Detectives
have grilled four more suspects and retrieved bank details on how funds were
wired into some accounts.
“EFCC
operatives traced about N500million, which was meant for a consultant, to the
account of a governor. The cash has since been paid back after the discovery.
“The
operatives are trying to determine whether or not the governor is also one of
the consultants engaged for advisory service by the NGF.
“The details
of how the refunds were diverted will soon be made public, especially those
involved,” the source said.
Responding
to a question, the source added: “The President is expected to get a status
report from EFCC on the investigation.
The Federal
Government released N388.304billion of the N522.74 billion refund to 35 states
as over-deductions on the London-Paris Club loans.
States on
top of the list with huge reimbursements are those controlled by the opposition
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contrary to their claims of being oppressed by
the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The big
earners are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos, Imo,
Jigawa, Borno, Niger, Bauchi and Benue.
Only Kano
State and the FCT did not benefit from the reimbursement.
(Financial
Watch)
No comments:
Post a Comment