Aisha Buhari & Halliburton Bribery Scandal: Ribadu Reveals Top Secrets, More Facts

Premium Times - The Aisha Buhari mentioned in the bribery scandal of a former United States congressman, William Jefferson, was an impostor who was peddling influence with the name of President Muhammadu Buhari, a former chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, has told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr. Ribadu narrated how the EFCC during his tenure, in conjunction with U.S. authorities, almost arrested the impostor.

“She is a different person and has lived in the U.S. for years. She is hardly in Nigeria. The EFCC was working with U.S. authorities on the investigations. One of my plans was to arrest her before I left the commission. Our suspicion then was that she was using the Buhari name for influence.

“The EFCC laid ambush to see if she would come into the country so she could be arrested. I didn’t know what happened to the plan to arrest her after I left,” he said.

Mr. Ribadu however said if Nigerian authorities were still interested in the case it was easy to establish her real identity.

He said this should not be a problem for investigators because she recently renewed her passport at the Nigeria embassy in Washington and that they should still have a file on her.

Mr. Ribadu’s successor at the EFCC , Ibrahim Lamorde, had earlier told this newspaper the President Buhari’s wife was not the person mentioned in the scandal as alleged by the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

Mr. Fayose had distributed a link to the U.S. Department of Justice Web site holding court documents where a certain Aisha Buhari was alleged to have transferred suspicious funds to a convicted former American congressman, Williams Jefferson.

In a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Mr. Fayose said President Buhari was far from being a clean man.

“Even the President cannot claim to be an angel,” the governor said, in reaction to the freezing of his Zenith Bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read.”

But Mr. Lamorde told PREMIUM TIMES that the Aisha Buhari in the Jefferson bribery scandal was not the President’s wife.

“I can tell you authoritatively that the Aisha Buhari named in that case is not President Buhari’s wife. It is another Aisha Buhari entirely,” Mr. Lamorde said.

“I was the director of operations at the EFCC at the time so I know about the case very well. I can tell you that it is not her (President Buhari’s wife). That much we established.”

FAYOSE An Unchained Mad Dog - Furious Aisha Buhari Blasts

Apparently in reaction to her  alleged false link to Williams Jefferson Halliburton bribery scandal by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari has reportedly described Fayose as an unchained mad dog, who is only out to rubbish President Buhari’s efforts.

The President's wife reportedly vented her anger at the Ekiti State governor via her her verified twitter handle @aishambuhari. 

The tweet reportedly read; “Enough is enough. Fayose is an unchained mad dog. If Buhari is 73 years old, I Aisha am 45 years old, I have more than enough energy to face you.”

The presidency is yet to verify this tweet currently making the round on the social media.

However, checks by News Punch on the twitter handle Wednesday morning showed that the tweet is no longer there.

The last time she tweeted was on June 20.

Yesterday, the Presidency also reacted to Fayose's outburst, describing him as  Childishly Obsessed With Incurable Boorish Instincts

Bank Documents Exposed How Obanikoro, Fayose 'Stole' N4.7b Arms Fund - EFCC Reveals

More facts have surfaced on how the talkative  of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose in connivance with former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro laundered the sum of N4.7 billion in the controversial $15 syphoned using the Office of the National Security Adviser during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has revealed

The commission, which has frozen the bank accounts of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and the account of a company, belonging to the two sons of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, said it had recovered evidence of the alleged illegal transactions from the banks.

The crime, the EFCC said was perpetrated between April 4, 2014, and December 15, 2014, when a total of N4.745bn was paid into the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan McNamara, the bank tellers and other relevant documents were said to be available as evident, Punch Newspaper reports

A bank document at the commission's disposal revealed that Sylvan McNamara was incorporated in November 2011, with the following people as directors: Ikenna Ezekwe, Idowu Oshodi and Elizabeth Adeniyi.

However, the company, on May 7, 2012, passed a resolution that it should open an account at Diamond Bank and have the following persons as signatories – Gbolahan Obanikoro, Babajide Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe and Theresa Matuluko.

Babajide and Gbolahan are the sons of Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister of State for Defence.

A source at the EFCC said, “The entire fraud started from the company that Obanikoro’s sons were operating. The company was set up by some people but curiously made Obanikoro sons signatories to the account.”

It was learnt that after money was paid into the firm’s account, about N759,384,300 was transferred into the accounts of about six bureau de change operators.

The two bureau de change operators, who received the bulk of the funds, were A. A. G. B.S Oil and Gas and North Line Limited. While A. A. G. B. S received N168m on June 16, 2014, North Line Limited received N835,000 on July 14; N83,750,000 on June 17; N1, 680,000 on September 3, 2014; about N2,325,300 on September 9; N5,932,500 on September 17 and N842,500 on July 30.

A detective at the EFCC added, “The owner of A. A. G. B. S Oil and Gas confirmed to us that the company is a BDC but was only bearing the name of an oil company. He confirmed that he received N168m from Sylvan McNamara and $1m was delivered to Obanikoro in cash while he was the Minister of State for Defence based on the exchange rate at the time.

“Obanikoro acknowledged receipt of the cash and we have recovered evidence. Some of the remaining dollars was received by Obanikoro’s son, Gbolahan.”

The detective at the EFCC further revealed that about N2bn from the money was withdrawn by the Obanikoro sons and then flown to the Akure Airport, Ondo, for onward transfer to Ekiti State.

While presenting the flight document, the detective said, “On June 12, 2014, barely 10 days to the Ekiti State governorship election, Obanikoro and a man, who claimed to be his Aide-de-Camp by the name of A. O. Adewale, chartered a private jet belonging to OAS Helicopters.

“About N724,500,000 was conveyed on the plane with tail number N638MA. The plane was an HS125 jet, operated by Okin Travellers, a subsidiary of Elizade. The plane landed at Akure at 9.38am and then went back to Lagos to get an extra N494,900,000 and landed at Akure at 5.57pm.

“Obanikoro handed the money over to one Abiodun Agbele, otherwise known as Abey, an associate of Fayose. Officials of Zenith Bank arrived at the tarmac in a bullion van to convey all the cash to the bank’s vault, located at 13 Alagbaka Estate, Akure.”

The detective, who presented bank tellers, said Abey gave the bank instructions at different times to pay the money into Fayose’s Zenith Bank account even after the elections.

He added, “Abbey directed the bank to pay N137m into the account of Ayodele Fayose with number 1003126654 and Bank Verification Number 22338867502. The bank teller dated June 26, 2014, was filled by Abbey with teller number 0556814.

“Abbey directed the bank to transfer N118,760,000 to the same account and paid in N50m cash into Fayose’s account.

“On April 7, 2015, several months later, Fayose personally moved N300m to his fixed deposit account at Zenith Bank with number 9013074033 with the same BVN. The account is domiciled at 15 Olusola Abiona Street, Estate, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos.”

The source added that on the instructions of Fayose, Abbey deposited N100m in the account of Spotless Investment Limited, a hotel, which is owned by Fayose and his wife, Olayemi.

Abbey, who was identified as the owner of a firm, De Privateer Limited, paid N100m into the Zenith Bank account of Spotless Investment Limited with number 1010170969 on June 17, 2014.

He also paid N219,490,000 and N300m on June 18, 2014 and June 19, 2014 respectively into his own company account with Zenith Bank marked 1013835889 while he kept a cash of N260m from the original funds.

Punch Newspaper

Fayose Richer Than Ekiti - EFCC Alleges, Asks The Gov To Go To Court Over Blocked Account

The Economic and Financial crime Commission has reportedly revealed that the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Peter Ayodele, whose Zenith Bank Account was frozen is richer than the State, report according to Current News Now say.

According to a source of the anti-corruption Agency, the huge amount of money found in the governor's private account and that of his cronies cannot in anyway be compared with that of the state. 

The EFCC investigations into the finances of Ekiti State vis - a - viz that of the state governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose has revealed that the governor by all standards is far richer than the state. 

"The EFCC does not just act without carrying out thorough investigations, we acted based on the act establishing the Agency. If anyone felt we've acted against him wrongly, let the person approach the court."

"It is a fact that according to our constitution, certain category of public officials are immuned from prosecution while in office and they include the President, Vice President, Governors and deputy Governors.

Thus, we all recognize and accept the fact that these category of persons have immunity, but to transfer this immunity to their properties or holdings or bank accounts is what we have been unable to identify where it is stated in the constitution."

"So, if Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state is crying wolf over the freezing of his personal bank account and not that of the state as a result of investigation of irregularities and suspicious transactions by the EFCC as empowered by the Act establishing the commission, may one use this medium to advise him to quickly approach the courts and seek the interpretation of the law on the difference between immunity for the governor and his personal bank account which has been frozen by the anti graft body."

"Governor Ayodele Fayose cannot in anyway be richer than his state. So let him go to court we shall meet him there."

BREAKING: Gov. Fayose's Account Frozen By EFCC

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes commission has frozen his personal account with Zenith Bank Plc.

Fayose said this on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

This followed his inability to operate the account when he visited the bank personally.

He told newsmen that officials of the Bank told him that an embargo has been placed on his account.

Fayose had been having a running battle with the EFCC over the funding of his governorship campaign in 2014.

There had been accusations that the campaign was funded with funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Fayose had denied this, saying his campaign funds were generated from the ordinary people who wanted him in power.

When contacted, the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was not aware of the accusation levelled against the Commission by Fayose.

PDP Crisis: Fayose Likens Sheriff To HIV/Aids Bride

"Without doubt I did not beg Sherff but I supported his coming. And when you act within the ambits of time, the information you have at a given time I am not someone that will say I did not support Sheriff. But when you want to marry a woman, and on the wedding day, they tell you that the woman has HIV, will you still remain in the marriage? I am out of it."

Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose Alleged Quote

Gov. Fayose Goes On Indefinite Strike Too Over Worker 5 Months Unpaid Salaries

Daily Trust - Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose has embarked on an indefinite strike in solidarity with the striking workers in the state protesting non-payment of their five months salary arrears.

The workers, in compliance with the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had been on strike since 12 days ago.

 Fayose said the solidarity strike became expedient to show concern with the workers, who have not received salaries in the last five months .

 Fayose, who declared his intention on Friday in a televised broadcast, however, pleaded with the striking workers to call off their action saying the money for the payment of  January salaries of local government workers, primary school teachers and subventions to tertiary institutions in the state was ready.

 He added that other categories would receive theirs by July ending.

The Chairmen of TUC, Com Odunayo Adesoye, NLC, Com. Ade Adesanmi and JNC Secretary, Com. Blessing Oladele ,  were particularly irked by the statement credited to Fayose,  averring that he won’t sell his family to pay  workers, describing the statement as ‘not only insensitive but inflammatory”.

 All entreaties by Fayose and stakeholders, including the speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole, who held a meeting with leadership of trade unions on Friday to placate the striking labour unions were futile, as the labour leaders insisted that negotiation could only happen when salaries are paid.

But Fayose in the broadcast declared solidarity with the workers to confirm that he shared their pains and anguish caused by his inability to pay salary.

The governor was emphatic that what he has been declaring as amount accruing to the State as internally generated revenue and the N2.6 billion workers’ wage bill were true positions of the state finances.

 “I want to tell workers that I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with you. I shared your pains , but it was rather unfortunate that a man can’t give what he doesn’t have.

 “I have told you the true position of the finances of the state, of which you had played critical roles in allocation of federal

allocations to relevant sectors which shows how well I had carried you along since the dwindling revenue to the state commenced.

“During my first term, I mean, 2003 to 2006, I used to pay salary of workers by 21st of every month. But the present situation is very unfortunate and we have to learn how to live with it until the country wriggle out of it and things will change for better.

 “I want to say that I will be expecting you back to your offices when you are ready to return to work. I shall be expecting you, because presently I am handicapped and there is nothing I can do.

 “But before then, I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with your course. But I appeal that you put the interest of the state above everything , because the present position affects everybody ”, Fayose said

#DasukiGate: How Badeh bought Fayose’s land for N650m – Witness

A contractor, Mr. Mustapha Yerima, Monday, narrated before the Federal High Court in Abuja, how the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, paid his firm, Rytebuilders Technologies Limited, N1.2billion to construct a multipurpose shopping mall for him in Abuja.

Badeh is facing trial over allegation that he diverted over N3.9bn from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, within 2013.

He is answering to a 10-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

At the resumed hearing Monday, Yerima, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness, PW-4, told the court that Badeh paid N650million to acquire the land where the mall was constructed.

He said that the land situate at plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone, A07, close to Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse II, Abuja, was originally registered in the name of one Ayodele Fayose.

Though Yarima, who is the Managing Director of Rytebuilders Technologies Limited, did not clarify if the Fayose he made reference to is the current Governor of Ekiti State, he however told the court that at the point negotiation was to commence on land, it was discovered that the ownership had been transferred to one Mr. Tony who he said was the owner of Hytechs Furniture.

The witness told the court that it was a former Director of Finance and Account at the NAF, Air Commodore Abdullahi Yushau, retd, who had earlier testified as the PW-1 in the matter, that helped Badeh to facilitate the purchase of the land.

Narrating how the land was eventually bought, the witness said upon realizing that Fayose had transferred ownership to ‘Mr. Tony’ whose surname he could not remember, he said they immediately sought for his contact.

He said they eventually got Mr. Tony, who also revealed that the land had been sold to a third party, one Casagro Investment Limited.

“We got back to Yushua to inform him. Because there were other agents involved, we got to find out where Casagro Investment is based. Yushua then directed us to go and negotiate with Casagro Investment Ltd. When we got to the firm, it named the price as N650m.

“After then we got back to Yushua and told him the price and he said he would get back to us. He later called us and gave us N650m in dollar equivalent because Casagro insisted on cash payment.

“We took the money to his office; he confirmed and gave us all the original documents of the land. Again we called Yushau and asked him on whose name should the documents be registered, namely the Deed of Assignment and the Power of Attorney.

“Yushua told me that we should prepare the documents in our company’s name, which he said we would later transfer to another company after we might have discussed with his boss in person of Air Marshal Badeh.

“We did exactly as he said because at that time our interest was to construct the mall. We handed over the original documents to Yushua.

“After that, he called us one day again that they are ready to start construction of the mall. He gave us a sketch of the building and said we should provide him with provisional estimate of what the construction of the mall would cost.

“We gave him the estimate of N1.3billion. Then Yushua complained and said he would get to his boss, Air Marshal Badeh and that whatever he decides he would get back to us.

“He called me after two seeks to give me architectural drawing and compete bill of contract. That was when he gave me a bill of N1.2bn.

“I remember at one stage we calculated about N480m as mobilization. He then gave us about N340m in dollar equivalent.

“Then we stated constructing the mall, at each stage we provided him with site progress pictures which he said he would be submitting to his boss, Air Marshal Badeh, so that he would appreciate the progress of the work.

“While we were constructing the project, one day, Air Commodore Yushua called us for a meeting and said that henceforth, our payment would be coming from the Nigerian Air Force. He then introduced me to one Air Commodore Sini who happened to be the Camp Finance Officer, CFO, at that time. He happened to be in charge of payment. Afterwards Sini started processing our payments from

“We were paid a total of N860m or N880m from the NAF account. As soon as we were about to exhaust the payment made to us at that time, we realized there were a couple of things that were not part of the bill of payment we earlier submitted.

“We quickly raised an alert and also submitted a review because some items, their prices had gone up or as a result of exchange rate on some of the items we imported. Then the job began to slow down. By then we had come to the finishing stage.