The anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration appears to have taken a bigger bite as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secretly frozen the bank accounts of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s associates, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

One of our correspondents learnt that the move by the anti-graft agency was aimed at scuttling the tranfer of the alleged looted funds from the accounts for other reasons.

A member of a key transition committee of the All Progressives Congress, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, on Friday, said the need had become necessary in view of the magnitude of the alleged theft of public resources by the affected persons.

The APC chieftain spoke on the heels of the condemnation of President Buhari’s ongoing probe of the last administration of the Peoples Democratic Party and recovery of funds looted by public officials.

The affected accounts, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, belonged to Keketobou Foundation, owned by former Special Adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and Mieka Divers Limited as well as Global West Vessels Limited reportedly owned by ex-Niger Delta warlord, Mr. Government Ekpompolo, aka Tompolo.

Further investigations by our correspondents also showed that one of Jonathan’s close allies, Mr. Kime Engozi’s accounts had also been flagged.

Engozi is the contractor handling the N30bn Maritime University contract at Okerenkoko in the Gbaramatu area of Delta State.

Besides, funds already approved for the commencement of the university are said to have remained frozen in a Yenagoa branch of the United Bank for Africa Plc.

The NIMASA Technical College at Okoloba, also in Delta State, is also said to be facing an uncertain future as there are fears that the institution might be scrapped.

Accounts linked to the former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, are also said to have been frozen by the EFCC.

The source, who is now in the Presidency, said although he could not confirm if Jonathan’s recent meeting with Buhari discussed the issue, the action to ‘flag’ the said accounts might have been for security reasons.

The source also said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party was ignorant of the workings of the Federal Government, especially on security.

The source added, “This is not a matter of lobby or any politics that should be shoved aside; what is at stake is the nation’s security and nothing more.

“When the PDP says the current anti-corruption drive is selective, we continue to laugh at them because they do not seem to know what is at stake at all. If only they know, all the noise they have been making won’t be made at all.

“How many of these PDP elements know that just one individual benefitted from a single NIMASA transaction to the tune of N13bn, not to talk of about $57m he was said to have benefitted from controversial contract deals?

“Are these the things they ask us to sweep under the carpet? Certainly, we cannot because apart from the angle of the impunity and financial recklessness, does it make any sense if any responsible government allows such individuals, who had threatened war in the event that Jonathan did not win to have such huge sums in bank vaults? Such accounts must be flagged, of course.”

However, the PDP has asked President Buhari to follow the rule of law in his government’s determination to fight corruption.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday night, asked the President not to spare anyone, including his friends and members of the ruling APC in the crusade.

Metuh said, “We are not against the war against corruption, but what we are saying is that the President must follow the rule of law.

“The law says every accused person is innocent until proven otherwise. Then, the President must also look at his party; he shouldn’t spare his friends.

“If any of our members is found to be corrupt, let them face the law of the land. But no one should be tagged as being corrupt when the court has not said so.”

He also asked the President to fund the anti-corruption agencies adequately, while saying that the agencies should also conduct what he described as “water-tight investigations” before rushing to the court.

Repeated calls to the mobile telephone set of the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were neither picked nor returned.

Also he had yet to reply a text message sent to him at 8.52pm, asking for his comments on charges that the APC-led administration was hounding members of the opposition PDP and associates of Jonathan, as of the time of filing this report.

Tompolo is not under any investigations by the EFCC, but Kuku has a date to keep with the anti-graft agency in September, having gone for a knee surgery in the United States of America in July, while the former NIMASA boss has been under investigation for over month.

However, Akpobolokemi’s interaction with the EFCC has been linked to business deals by him while he held sway at NIMASA and the ex-warlord.

SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that EFCC’s seizure of Akpobolokemi’s international passport and a N38m worth bullet-proof Toyota Landcruiser was already heightening speculations that he might be prosecuted if findings by the investigators indict him.

At least three close aides and confidants of the ex-NIMASA boss, including the current Executive Director in charge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Mr. Ezekiel Bala Agaba, have been guests of the EFCC in the last ten days

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/probe-jonathans-associates-accounts-frozen/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

corruption should be seen as the greatest crime against humanity in Nigeria... Corruption in Jonathan’s government was an international fact known everywhere. man who could say stealing is not corruption, that statement brought down the image of the country totally.. Really nobody is saint or perfect but jonathan too soft for Nigeria..

All good things comes to those who patiently wait, slow and steadily work with focus despite wailing from Wailers association, Nigerians will soon know why "stealing is not corruption" before and why "stealing must always be corruption"

Let's hope the corrupt will not use our fault line i.e ethnicity, religion,section, to derail this war for the benefit of the unborn "pikin".

God bless Naija
We shall be great again

he should continue freezing while others keep achieving....





Nigerians asked for it...

laurel03:
Stealing was not a corruption b4 but now stealing is now a corruption....

Ur English tho.

loading

Kworuption is as old as the word democracy itself , a system of government where power intoxicates and drive leaders to act crazy .


Checkout all the fellows indicted, they are all from Niger Delta

I dream of a country where we would rise beyond the sham created in 1914

How can you mix oil, salt and water expecting them blend ?


This is one of the tools the West used in destabilizing African unity

I don't hv anything to say.. .. #spreadsmat. .. . Reading comments

Freeze Everything...
Ride On Baba

GEJ till 2019

In psquare voice...wahala dey,..

"Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has SECRETLY", is where I stopped at. When the Punch newspaper is ready to report news that will not be discountenanced a day after it was reported, they will get my attention.

Hmm

great news

GOD BLESS YOU....

laurel03:
corruption should be seen as the greatest crime against humanity in Nigeria... Corruption in Jonathan’s government was an international fact known everywhere. man who could say stealing is not corruption, that statement brought down the image of the country totally..

Stealing is now corruption (S .I .N .C)

Thank you baba Buhari.


let's hear what wailers will have to say

Another conjectures from the useless punch newspaper. Are we in a military era where EFCC can just freeze someone's account without a court order. Must they even mention Gej's name? Somebody should tell these idio.ts in power now thay should leave propaganda and face the business of governance. Since Buhari became the president, the economy is seen nose diving, people are losing their jobs in droves and instead of finding a solution, he is busy on his selective vindictive mission.

Good move. Anyone or anything that pose a security risk against the unity of this nation should be dealt with.

Hmmmmmm Without Subpoenas, Court Orders?

Good move... TANOIDS will wail..

Fake news!! Only a valid court order can freeze anyone's accounts

Buhari should allow EFcc do her Job. And
Start fulfiling campaign promises..

bruno419:
he should continue freezing while others keep achieving....






Nigerians asked for it...

what are others achieving? no wonder, ur corrupt gej never bother to fight corruption for d pass 6yrs,

The blackman is the most forgiving of all human race.
I don't understand if it is too much belief in religion.
Is it poverty?
Is it inferiority complex?
Is it slave mentality?
Is it our geographical location?
...Just name it, I can't figure it out!
People will come, steal! Embazzle! Loot! Their patrimony; make them selves too powerful; use the money to make their children kings; use thesame money to subvert the law to suit any kind of anomalies;
Yet, you will see some people asking for 'Pardon' to be granted to such individuals.
Chai, na wa oo!

bugzbunny:
Buhari should allow EFcc do her Job. And
Start fulfiling campaign promises..

is anyone disturbing efcc not to do her job?

For more info on how to be a wailer, pls contact us on 070WAILINGWAILERS. info@wailingwailers.com or visit www.wailingwailers.com

gud

hahaha, owo ti baa...

baba freeze anything FREEZABLE. lol