THREE days after he was granted bail by Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje of an Abeokuta High Court, fresh facts have emerged that the $4 million alleged to have been converted to his personal use by former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State was actually paid as workers' salaries in the Gateway State. The 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former governor accused him of converting the sum to his personal use, converting Judges' Quarters to his use, acquiring hectares of land for his business interests and converting council funds.

The EFCC had announced that Daniel was involved in a N58 billion scam but the amount involved in the charges before Justice Mabekoje was less than N5 billion.

Fresh findings yesterday showed that the $4 million was actually converted into naira and paid into state government's accounts for workers' salaries.

In the first count of the charge filed against Daniel, he was alleged to have fraudulently converted the sum of $1 million state funds deposited in the Ogun State Government domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank to acquire shares of Glanvill Enthoven and Company (Nigeria) Limited, contrary to Section 390 (4) (f) of the Criminal Code, Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State, 1978.

The second count charge indicated that Daniel on or about April 8, 2010 fraudulently converted an aggregate sum of $2 million state funds deposited in the Ogun State Government's domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank to acquire shares of Glanvill Enthoven and Company (Nigeria) Ltd, contrary to Section 390 (4) (f) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State, 1978.

Count three of the charge stated that Daniel on April 8, 2010 fraudulently converted the sum of $1 million state funds deposited in the Ogun State Government domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank to acquire shares of 21st Century Technology Limited, contrary to Section 390 (4) (f) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State, 1978.

But, the fresh findings revealed that the $1 million was credited to account no 0130775028 (21st Century Technologies Limited) same day with teller no 3221602 by same person. The State Government salary account no 0142070200787001 was credited with the sum of N152 million cash deposited by Azeez N44.8 million (teller no 4063398); Mustapha N27.2 million (4063360); Tunde N38 million (4063397); Mohammed N42 million (4063400), on the 17th March, 2010.

Also, on March 31, 2010, an instruction was received from the Office of the Accountant-General to release the cash sum of $1 million to Mr O.A Olaleye. The $1 million was credited to account no 0343881024 (Granville Consultancy Limited) same day with teller no 3123708 by same person. The State Government salary account no 0142070200787001 was credited same day with the sum of N138 million transferred from Granville Consultancy Ltd.

On April 8, 2010, two instructions were received from the Office of the Accountant-General to release the cash sum of $1 million each to Mr O.A Olaleye. The $2 million was credited to account no 0343881024 (Granville Consultancy Limited) same day with teller nos 414840 & 4141843 by same person. The State Government salary account no 0142070200787001 was credited same day with the sum of N290 million as cash deposited by Yakubu N170 million (teller no 2988823) and Wahab N120 million (teller no 3988824).

With the facts, it is obvious that the total sum of $4 million for which the former governor was charged to court was actually not missing.

It has also been revealed that he is not close to Wale Ajisebutu, the Managing Director of 21st Century Technology Limited.


http://www.nigeriancompass.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6594:daniel-4m-allegedly-stolen-paid-as-workers-salaries&catid=54:nigeria-today&Itemid=594

How did EFCC miss this? Incompetence?