EFCC names Fani-Kayode, Falae, Udenwa, others in N3.145bn alleged fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) on Monday claimed that it had evidence showing how key Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members shared N3.145 billion ahead of the 2015 general election.
Top of the bill is Femi Fani-Kayode, who was director of media and publicity PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, he was named along with Chief Olu Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Others are former finance minister, Nenadi Usman and former Imo state governor, Achike Udenwa.
Former minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri and politician Okey Ezenwa were also named to have shared in the money.
According to a source at EFCC who spoke to PremiumTimes, the money was paid by the Central Bank Nigeria into the account of the Ministry of External Affairs Library, from where it was moved into the account of a private firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.
The source said: 'It was from the Joint Dimension's account with Zenith Bank that the money was shared to various individuals and organizations for purposes that are not stated.'
The source described Fani-Kayode as the chief beneficiary of the disbursement as he allegedly received a whooping N840million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch, with number 1004735721.
The first tranche of payment involving N350million allegedly hit the account on February 19, 2015.
The source disclosed that the balance on this account as at December 31, 2015 was N189, 402.72.
Next to him in the alleged beneficiaries was Goodluck Support Group which allegedly received N320million. The group was headed by Rufai Alkali, a professor and former special adviser on political matters to Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's former president.
Accordingto the EFCC source, Falae received N100m through Marreco Limited, a company whose he chairs. It is however not clear if this is the same N100 Falae was accused to have received from Jonathan.
The fund was credited into the company's United Bank for Africa Plc account No. 1000627022 on March 25, 2014.
Both Achike Udenwa and Viola Onwuliri got N350million in two tranches. The first tranche of N150million was paid into their joint account with Zenith bank on January 13, 2015.
The second tranche of N200miilion has credited into their account with Diamond bank.
Nenadi Usman allegedly received N36.9million through her Zenith Bank account no. 1000158311. Her branch of Zenith Bank is located at 7 Kachia Road, Kaduna.
Coming at the rear is Okey Ezenwa who also pocketed N100million.
The sources disclosed that detectives are working to determine the real motive for the distribution of the funds.
'But as things stand, the fact that most of the payments were made in the weeks preceding the last presidential elections leaves very little to the imagination,' an investigator said.
When contacted Fani-Kayode said the funds were paid into his account by Nenadi Usman, who was the director of finance of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign.
'The campaign asked me to open an account for my campaign directorate, which I did. They then paid the money in for the assignment I was given. I asked them where they money came from. They said it was private contribution for the Jonathan campaign. I believed them, and I had no way of knowing exactly where the money came from.
He told by Premium Times that 'As far as I'm concerned, it was campaign funds, and the money was used for the purpose for which it was meant. And we accounted for it to the man who gave us a job to do, President Jonathan.'