7 former governors, 6 ex-Ministers set to lose loots in Dubai

The Federal Government appears to have concluded arrangements for the repatriation of over $200b loot kept in the United Arab Emirates by seven former state governors, about six ex-Ministers and other public servants, including their fronts.

The Nation reports that some real estate belonging to former Politically Exposed Persons, PEPs and their cronies and fronts are in danger of being seized.

Among those being investigated for hiding looted funds in the Arab country either in cash or real estate are seven former governors, six former ministers, a fleeing presidential aide implicated in the $2.1billion arms deals, ex-military chiefs under probe, agents / fronts of some of these public officers and five chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu and crack detectives from the anti-graft agency are on a Federal Government's team that is already comparing notes on the indicted PEPs with their  counterparts in the United Arab Emirates.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in January signed a “Judicial Agreement on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth."

According to a source who to The Nation in confidence, “the Federal Government team has met with those from the UAE on intelligence sharing, the list of those on EFCC radar, the number of highly-placed Nigerians with fat accounts in UAE and those with choice properties in Marina (Dubai), Bur Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

”Some of the former governors include one from the South-South, two from Northcentral, two from the Northeast, one from the Northwest, and one from the Southwest.

“A former-governor had made botched attempts to transfer about $517million loot to Dominican Republic because UAE law is now strict.

“More than six ex-ministers and a former presidential aide, who is on the run over the $2.1billion arms deals, were said to have acquired choice mansions and malls in UAE. One of the former ministers, who was alleged to own two houses in Dubai, was said to have served as a front for a former First Lady.

“Another ex-minister had bought some malls through a few cronies in Dubai. The list of such agents is being screened.

“Certainly, the anti-graft agency has tightened the noose on these former public officers and there is no hiding place for them.

“The success of the collaboration between the Federal Government team and the UAE Government will determine when EFCC will release the concessions on some of these PEPs. Very soon, we will unveil these ex-political office holders.”