Alleged CORRUPTION: How USD $1Billion Disney World Investment Was Allegedly Scuttled

A coalition of non-governmental individuals known as CITIZENS UNITED AGAINST CORRUPTION (CUAG-NIG ) has raised alarm about the scuttling of a $1 billion investments in Abuja in the real estate sector by the immediate past administration. In a statement the grour stated as follows:

"First, we want to appreciate the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in the war against corruption. Though some of us may not be rated the best of Mr. President’s fans, but he deserves our commendations in respect of his strong will and determination to confront corruption headlong in all facets of our society. We may have our observations on some lapses in the strategies adopted by the anti-graft bodies, the government nevertheless should be applauded for making her intentions on anti-graft crusade well known.

The dividends of the anti-corruption war are already being counted in terms of cash recovered and properties forfeited to government. Aside these, another very critical benefit are citizen’s awareness and ownership of this anti-corruption project. Nigerians are now emboldened and willing more than ever before to report and expose corruption cases because of the great confidence that government will act decisively on it.

It is in the spirit of this citizen partnership that we are motivated to address the media on this subject of how alleged corruption fueled the scuttling of a one billion U.S. Dollars investment in Abuja, F.C.T.

1. The project named “Heritage City African Kingdom and Empire Theme Park” - a replica of the United States of America Disney World Centre was reportedly conceptualized during Malam Nasir El-Rufia’s ministerial administration in the F.C.T. in 2004. To avoid being painted in the colour of attention seekers or business promoters, we would restrict ourselves to the motive behind this exposure. As mentioned earlier, the Empire theme park was to bring in an estimated One Billion United States Dollar worth of direct foreign investment into Nigeria. In addition, it will create a minimum of 14,000 to 15,000 jobsfor our teeming unemployed youths as well as provide expected earnings of about U.S.D $3 billion to our country’s economy annually.

1. But unfortunately, these gains were sacrificed on the altar of alleged greed/corruption. We are in possession of documents dated 19^thNovember, 2012; 20^th December, 2012; 2/5/2013; 11^th April, 2013; 18^th April, 2013; 30^th May, 2013; 24^thMay, 2013; 31^st May, 2013; 28^th October, 2014; 05/03/2015 and others to show that this laudable project was scuttled due to alleged demand of N1.9 billion bribe by former FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed and his business crony one Mr. Tarik Hammond, a Lebanese nationalized Nigerian.

Our hearts bleed because this is the alleged face of those we entrust our destiny in their hands as public officers.

1. Recall that on the 6^th of August, 2016, The Nation Newspaper on its front page reported the story of the former F.C.T. Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, his son and the same Mr. Tarik Hammond, in alleged FCT land Racketeering and money laundering citing EFCC sources. Also recall that the Senate Committee that investigated the numerous petitions of alleged corruption, fraud and land Racketeering against the former minister Bala Mohammed is yet to make its report and findings public.

Time was, in our country when most weighty allegations of corruption involving high profile individuals are usually settled under the table and swept under the carpet but we can see that today is different and that even the carpet is no longer a safe haven for hiding corruption. Therefore, it is the expectation of Nigerians that our nation’s anti-corruption Agencies should move swiftly to investigate, arrest and prosecute all those involved in this wicked act if proven to be credible after a transparent investigative process.

1. For the avoidance of doubt, our key objectives are to see that all those involved in this alleged corrupt practice are brought to book in accordance with the law and for the Federal Government to seek means of bringing the investment back to our country as one of the ways to come out of our current economic recession.

Our investigation into this matter is still ongoing and we will soon invoke the Freedom of Information Act to demand for other relevant documents from the Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration before we forward our conclusive findings and documents to President Buhari and the EFCC for prosecution and the Nigerian public for purposes of information. Meanwhile our efforts to reach any of the two persons did not yield any result.

We thank you for your kind attention.
For record purposes, ladies and gentlemen, this press conference is organized in collaboration with Nationwide Action Against Corruption (NAAC)represented by its director Mr. Cyril Eze ani. "

The immediate past minister Mr Bala Mohammed has however denied all the allegations.