The Untold, The Joker, The Big Secret Why Buhari Is Actually On Massive Crackdown On 'Corrupt Politicians'

The total dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC by 2019 has been revealed as the untold reason why President Muhammadu Buhari government will continue and sustain its massive crack down on corrupt politicians, Ripples Nigeria reported

It was learnt according to Ripples Nigeria that the hunt for perceived enemies of the state is beyond the anti-graft war as has been widely speculated.

The last three months have witnessed a rash of arrests, mostly of top government officials who served in the Goodluck Jonathan administration and their ‘collaborators’ in the corporate world. The most recent were the dramatic invitation and arrest of Femi Fani-Kayode, Jonathan’s former Campaign Director, and Barrister Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a known critic of Buhari’s seeming permissive disrespect for the rule of law.

Theirs were preceded by the detention and release of the Managing Directors of Fidelity Bank, Sterling Bank and Access Bank. There are speculations that a very top official of First Bank may also have been picked by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While Adegboruwa has been accused of ‘419’ activities, the bank chiefs are alleged to have partaken in Dasukigate and the looting of $15 billion earmarked for arms purchase.

Very competent sources within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have confided in Ripples Nigeria that the sustained battle against ‘corruption’ is deliberate and orchestrated, and aimed at clearing the way for total dominance of the party in the 2019 elections. But this is only the broad perspective. Our sources say that the minor details lay in the hidden struggle for the control of the party structure and soul of the APC.

“APC is stewed in opposition politics. We are veterans and understand what it means to put our opponents on the defensive all the time. PDP was a behemoth, and still remains largely so with a massive financial chest. We know that with a slim majority across the states and the National Assembly, our hold on the polity would be tenuous.

“The move to decimate PDP is strategic and deliberate. It’s the wisest and safest thing to do in the circumstance, if we hope to consolidate the reins of power in 2019. We don’t want to be a one-term government, the source stated.

He continued that “The PDP made themselves game by the reckless looting of the nation’s treasury. We knew they were desperate to retain power in 2015 and stole heavily to fund the campaigns. It was easy to track their sources of funding because of our network within the presidency. The revelations so far are a tip of the iceberg. By the time we are done, PDP would barely crawl,” our source said.

He admitted that rumblings within the party had become a major threat to its stability but was quick to add that APC was focused on the primary task of putting PDP in disarray.

“Yes, it’s true that powerful elements within the APC hierarchy are engaged in a fierce struggle for control of the party machinery. Not even the presidency is uninterested. Buhari is arguably one of the hungriest and smartest Nigeria politicians alive. He knows that he must work to keep the party structure with him. Don’t be deceived, the ‘anti-corruption war’ may swing either way and come in handy as a joker.”

The source also noted that discerning party chieftains are already wary of this and plotting safety valves, just in case Mr President decides to table his ace.

“In spite of all the rumblings, we are focused on the one goal of returning to power in 2019. This is paramount to all APC faithful”, our source said.

Ripples Nigeria

Rampaging EFCC On Massive Arrest of Jonathan's Ministers, PDP Chieftains Over Diezani $115m Bribe

New Telegraph - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody two former Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, and ex-Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed. Both Wali and Mohammed served under former President Goodluck Jonathan. Wali allegedly received N950 million while Mohammed was alleged to have collected N500 million out of the money said to have been allegedly budgeted for the 2015 general elections by Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Also taken into custody, according to informed sources, is a former official of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) in Kano State, one Sani Isa, who was alleged to have received N406,206,000, on behalf of the late Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in Kano State, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The EFCC, in continuation of its investigations into the N23 billion laundered by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke during the 2015 general elections through Fidelity Bank Plc., has so far unravelled how a total of N5,097,064,000 was disbursed and received by representatives from seven states in the North-West zone of the country.

“Preliminary investigation into the matter has shown that a total of N1, 356,620,000 was received by two beneficiaries from Kano State of which a total of N950,000,000 was received by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the last dispensation, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali while the balance of N406,206,000 was received on behalf of the late Kano State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi by one Sani Isa who is retiree of INEC, Kano State. “They all, according to investigations, collected these monies from Fidelity Bank Plc. after due certification of various means of identification as requested by the bank.

“Also, one of the representatives from Jigawa State who was the former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad, received a total of N500 million out of N750 million disbursed to Jigawa State. “The representatives from Kano and Jigawa states, including the former staff of INEC, have been taken into custody and investigations are still on-going as to who the balance of N250 million was given to.” The source stated that other states in the North- West zone were believed to have benefited through their representatives from the N1 billion campaign funds.

Also, operatives of the  EFCC have arrested the Cross River State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ntufam John Okon, New Telegraph has gathered. Highly placed sources at the EFCC said Okon was arrested in connection with the $115 million said to have been lodged in Fidelity Bank Plc., by Alison- Madueke.

The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, has, since, been arrested by operatives of the anti-graft agency. One of the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with New Telegraph, said the PDP chairman is alleged to have received N500 million, being his own share of the $115 million. The commission suspects that the lodged amount was allegedly meant to compromise some officials of INEC. Okon was arrested yesterday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. According to the source, “Investigations by the EFCC showed that Okon collected the money on March 26, 2015 at a branch of Fidelity Bank in Calabar.

“The money was placed in the transit account at the Corporate Headquarters of Fidelity Bank, but cash was made available to Okon in the Calabar branch of the bank.

“Okon is in the custody of the EFCC and would be charged to court soon,” the source said. Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has denied newspaper reports that he had gone underground in a bid to evade arrest by the EFCC. Fani-Kayode, who was director, media and publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2015, was said to have received N840 million for the campaign project.

Some members of the party, including former Imo State governor, Chief Achike Udenwa; former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman and ex-Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwilari have been invited and questioned by the anti-corruption agency in relation to some sums of the campaign funds linked to them.

A national newspaper (not New Telegraph) quoted an un-named EFCC source to have said that the former Minister of Aviation have gone into hiding. But in a statement yesterday, Fani-Kayode said he is yet to receive any invitation of any sort from the EFCC. “I have not been invited by the EFCC by letter and neither have they phoned me or attempted to reach me in any other way. I have been in my Abuja home for the last few weeks and I am not hiding from anyone,” he said.

He described the report as an attempt to further demonise and humiliate him by the EFCC, and challenged the anti-graft agency to either write or call him if it has any questions for him to answer.

“I have made my position clear on the issue of the presidential campaign funds. I have written an essay about it in my various columns about two weeks ago and I have been waiting for the EFCC to reach me ever since then. “They have invited others, but they have not invited me. I do not believe that I have done anything wrong and this latest attempt to criminalise me and make me look like a fugitive from justice will fail,” Fani-Kayode added.

According to him, other people invited by the EFCC over this same campaign funds issue were sent letters of invitation and were reached, noting that he appeared to be the only exception. The former minister noted that the “hideous lies are being fed to the newspapers to make it look as if I am in hiding or that I am running from them just to sensationalise the whole issue. “This is also to justify what the EFCC wish to do which is to arrest me in public, humiliate me or to storm my home and lock me up indefinitely.

There is no need for all that drama and if it happens that way the Nigerian people will know why. “I have no fear of the EFCC, I will respond to their invitation any day and anytime they send it to me and I will help them to clarify whatever issues they wish to raise in any way that I can. “Others were invited in a civilised way and were treated in a humane and decent manner.

I really do wonder why I should be treated differently, criminalised in the newspapers in this way and not even afforded the common courtesy of a formal invitation by them. “I await their letter or their call.”

#Diezanigate: 36 States INEC Chiefs Indicted, Oil Barons On The Run As INEC Officers, Banks Refund N407m

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, the EFCC has fingered Independent National Electoral Commission officers in the 36 states of the federation in the bribery saga of $115 million slush fund shared by the embattled former minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Some oils barons who were mandated to contribute the $88.35 million by the Diezani were reportedly shocked at the anti-graft, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC's unearthing the secret deal to aid Jonathan's reelection in 2015. Some of the barons were said to have gone into hiding to avoid been arrested, except for one, Leno Olaitan Adesanya,   who has reported himself to the EFCC

It was learnt that besides INEC officials in the 36 states, the EFCC has invited the owners of the oil firms which contributed $88.35million of the $115million sent to Fidelity Bank by the ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources.

One of the four oil firms implicated in the bribery saga has been linked to former Governor of Delta State, who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom, James Ibori.

An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence to our source, said:”Our investigation into the N23.29billion bribe has reached a critical stage. Six teams are working round the clock in all the geopolitical zones.

“The top officials of Fidelity Bank in custody have made statements, including the list of all beneficiaries and bank details of payments made to them.

“We are likely to arrest more suspects, especially the oil chiefs who provided about $88.35million of the $115million lodged in Fidelity Bank for conversion to naira.

“One of the clues we are probing is the likelihood of these funds being laundered by the oil firms and their owners.

“If these clues are proven, they may eventually face trial for money laundering. We will surely interact with these oil magnates.

“Some oil companies are under surveillance for their covert operation in diverting taxes and revenue meant for the Federal Government to fund campaigns. You can now understand why some of them were given tax waivers.”

The source added: “One of the oil chiefs, Leno Olaitan Adesanya, reported at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja but he has been directed to go to the Lagos office.

“We are expecting him for grilling on Friday (today). We have invited other oil chiefs but two of them have gone underground. We will fish them out wherever they are.”

Fidelity Bank and some former and serving officials of INEC have refunded about N408.7million to the EFCC.

While the bank refunded N49.7million, some former and serving INEC officials in Oyo and Ogun states paid back  N359millon

A top EFCC source said: “While scrutinizing their records, we discovered that Fidelity Bank made a profit of N49.7million from the disbursement transactions made in all its branches nationwide. The management of the bank on Thursday refunded the profit while we are continuing investigation on other funds.

“Some former and serving INEC officials in Oyo and Ogun have paid back N359million to EFCC. What happened was that while N802m was voted for bribery of INEC officials and NGOs in Oyo State to change presidential poll results, about N629m was dished out in Ogun State,

“But some of these beneficiaries in Oyo and Ogun were suspicious of the sources of the funds. They cooperated and went to the designated Fidelity Bank branches and collected the cash. Instead of spending it, they sought the service of lawyers who advised them to open accounts to keep the cash in case there are issues in the future.

“When this matter came up, the lawyers assisted in locating the funds and the N359million was refunded.

“We are working on other beneficiaries to recover the slush funds.”