Six PDP chieftains in N3.1b alleged fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has disclosed that it has uncovered how six chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP shared N3.145b in the run up to the 2015 presidential election.

According to an EFCC source, the money was paid into the accounts of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae;  former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman;  former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa; former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Viola Onwuliri and Mr. Okey Ezenwa from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The source said that the cash was paid by the CBN into the account of the Ministry of External Affairs Library, from where it was wired into the account of Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.

“It was from the Joint Dimension’s account with Zenith Bank that the money was shared to various individuals and organisations for purposes that are not stated,” said the source.

The source broke down the sharing formula as follows:
Fani-Kayode (N840m), Goodluck Group (N320m), Falae’s firm, Marreco Ltd (100m), Udenwa and Onwuliri (N350m), Nenadi Usman (N36.9m), Okey Ezenwa(N100m).

“Fani-Kayode allegedly received N840million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch account with No.1004735721.

“The first tranche of N350million hit the account on February 19, 2015; N250milion was also paid into the account on February19, 2015 while N240million was paid on March 19, 2015.
“The balance on this account as at 31st December, 2015 was N189, 402.72.

“The Goodluck Support Group allegedly received N320million

” Chief Falae allegedly received N100m through Marreco Limited, a company where he is chairman. The fund was credited into the company’s United Bank for Africa Plc account No. 1000627022 on March 25, 2015.

“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 was credited into their account with Diamond Bank.

“Nenadi Usman was paid N36.9 million through her Zenith Bank account no. 1000158311 on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna. Ezenwa was paid N100million.”

The source said that the anti-graft agency is trying to figure out the motive behind the payment of the monies to the PDP chieftains only a few weeks to the presidential election.