Fani-Kayode in EFCC's sights after investigations showed he shared £11m with others

FORMER aviation minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode may be the next high ranking member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be arrested after Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations revealed he participated in the sharing of N3.14bn (£11m).

 

Since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in May, the EFCC has been relentlessly probing the affairs of the past government and the way it used public finances. For now, the main focus has been on the $2.1bn Dasukigate scandal in which money budgeted to equip the military to fight Boko Haram was diverted into private pockets.

 

Investigations show that a lot of the money was spent bankrolling the PDP's election campaign and EFCC officials have uncovered details showing that Chief Fani-Kayode and several others shared N3.14bn last year. Other beneficiaries of the bonanza are said to include Okey Ezenwa, the former secretary to the federal government Chief Olu Falae, a former finance minister Nenadi Usman, former Imo State governor Achike Udenwa and the ex-minister of state for foreign affairs Viola Onwuliri.

 

One EFCC source said that 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 Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. It is believed that that Chief Fani-Kayode was the main beneficiary of the disbursement as he allegedly received N840m, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch account with No.1004735721.

 

Next to Chief Fani-Kayode in the order of beneficiaries is the Goodluck Support Group, which allegedly received N320m. Similarly, Chief Falae allegedly received N100m through Marreco Limited, a company where he is chairman.

 

Both Achike Udenwa and Viola Onwuliri are said to have got N350m in two payments, with the first tranche of N150m paid into their joint account with Zenith Bank on January 13, 2015, while the second tranche of N200mi has credited into their account with Diamond Bank. Nenadi Usman took her own share of the booty through her Zenith Bank account no. 1000158311 on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna.

 

Okey Ezenwa is reported to have pocketed N100m. According to the EFCC, most of the payments were made in the weeks preceding the last presidential elections.