FG sets up c’ttee to probe anti-graft agencies over N1.3trn recovered loots
The federal government has resolved to trace the whereabouts of the over
N1.3trillion said to have been recovered from treasury looters by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also to be investigated is the whereabouts of the N80billion and assets seized from corrupt public officers by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences and Commission (ICPC) and Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
It has consequently raised three committees to find the money.
The committees it was gathered were constituted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Specifically, the panels will find out what became of the assets and cash recovered from the late Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, one time Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, and pension thieves.
According to one of the sources, the presidency opted for the committees to enable it have a “true picture of the recovery records of the anti-graft agencies.”
He said the government was concerned that “politics is creeping into the whereabouts of the assets and cash got from looters.”
“All the committees are multi-agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria and anybody managing remittances from these anti-graft agencies.
“The committees will also consider court judgments, assets seized abroad and cash and assets under Temporary Assets Forfeiture Clause.
“The committees will interact with present and past heads of anti-graft agencies and Pension Task Force. The government is not after maligning anybody or group but it is out to streamline records and present the real situation to Nigerians.
“These are more or less purely fact-finding committees to resolve all lingering issues on the status of the recovery by these agencies.”
Responding to a question, the top source said: “For instance, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it has so far recovered over N80bn looted funds.
“The funds include N23b funds stashed in 40 banks across the country by looters. ICPC has also received over 4,497 petitions with 899 concluded, while 470 are still pending in court.
“These committees will locate all these funds, how much has been utilised and for what purposes. This will require going through remittances into the Federation Account.”
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed the setting up of the committees last night.
The International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) recently issued a Red Alert on the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, giving the relevant security agencies to arrest Maina in any part of the world.
The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr.Wilson Uwujaren, said Maina was wanted for his alleged role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly mismanaged over N2billion of pension funds.
Maina was on July 21, 2015 charged alongside Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.
While Oronsaye and two others were in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge, Maina is nowhere to be found.
However, on July 21 when the court heard the bail applications of the accused persons, Maina through his counsel, Esther Uzoma told the court that he was not at large, claiming that the EFCC had never invited him.
