₦airaland Forum

John Alechenu, Olusola Fabiyi, Chukwudi Akasike, Friday Olokor, Olalekan Adetayo and Olaleye
Aluko

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s name once again came up on Saturday during investigations into the seized N13bn ($43.4m, N23m and
£27,000) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the National Intelligence Agency had claimed ownership of the money which was recovered on Thursday.

A source familiar with the case told
one of our correspondents that
documents belonging to the
Goodluck/Sambo Presidential
Campaign Organisation were
recovered from the scene.
The organisation was responsible for
the failed re-election campaign of
Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi
Sambo.
A former National Chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Dr.
Ahmadu Ali, was the Director General
of the organisation.
But a source familiar with the case
told one of our correspondents on
condition of anonymity on Saturday
that the huge sum was not the only
item recovered from the seventh
floor of the building.
The source said, “The huge sum of
money was not the only thing
recovered from that building,
although that is what has remained
in public domain since that EFCC
operation.
“I can confirm to you that some
documents and campaign materials
belonging to the Goodluck/Sambo
Presidential Campaign Organisation
were also recovered alongside that
money. This is being investigated.
“A Ghana-must-go bag full of those
documents was taken from that
building.”
When asked if anybody had been
arrested or questioned as regards
the documents, the source said he
was not aware of any such
development.
Wike is confused
— Amaechi
Meanwhile, the Minister of
Transportation, who is a former
governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, has threatened to sue
those linking him with the property
located in the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
Amaechi, who spoke with one of our
correspondents on the telephone on
Saturday night, also denied
knowledge of the the money
allegedly discovered in the building.
He said those linking him to the
property were lazy, and challenged
them to find out details about the
owners of the house from the Lagos
State Land Registry.
He said, “I have no property
anywhere in Lagos State. That’s the
truth.
“Those making the unfounded
allegation should go and find out
from those living in the building, the
landlord that sold the flats or the
land registry about those who own
the flats.
“I have asked my lawyer to sue those
who are making such unfounded
allegations against me.
“The Federal Government has come
out to say the money belongs to it.
Why the noise again?”
One of our correspondents gathered
that a former governor from the
South-East owned a flat in the
building.
Wike had alleged at a press
conference on Friday night that the
money in question belonged to
Amaechi, his predecessor.”
He also insinuated that the houses in
Ikoyi equally belonged to the former
governor.
But in a statement released by his
media office in Abuja earlier on
Saturday, Amaechi described the
claims as malicious, frivolous and
another failed attempt by Wike to
divert attention from the mess he
had created in Rivers State.
The statement read, “Wike has
stolen Rivers State dry. Wike and his
gang have frittered billions of naira
of Rivers people away.
“Rivers State is perpetually in crisis.
The state is in a mess as Wike has
made a total mess of governance in
the state. That child who sits there as
governor is confused, he doesn’t
know what to do. Wike’s only
solution is to attack Amaechi.
“At this rate, if Wike is unable to
perform his spousal duties, he will
blame it on Amaechi. Yes, that’s how
despicably low he can go in his
consuming fixation to throw mud at
Amaechi.”
The former governor challenged
Wike to charge him to court if he has
any shred of evidence that the
money belongs to Rivers State and
was kept in the Ikoyi apartment by
him.
When contacted on Saturday to react
to the claim by Wike that the seized
fund was part of the money used to
rig President Muhammadu Buhari to
power, his Special Adviser on Media
and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina,
directed one of our correspondents
to the ruling All Progressives
Congress leadership.
“That is not a matter for the
Presidency. You can get across to the
APC spokesman for a reaction,”
Adesina said.
Repeated calls to the mobile
telephone numbers of the APC
National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun; National Secretary,
Mai Bala Buni; and National Publicity
Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, did not
elicit a response.
While calls made to the mobile
numbers of Odigie-Oyegun and
Abdullahi were neither picked nor
returned, the mobile of Buni was
switched off. None of them replied
the text messages sent to their
mobiles on the subject as of the time
of filling this report at 4:57pm.
I’m ready for battle — Wike
But Wike vowed on Saturday that his
administration was ready for a
“lengthy battle” with the Federal
Government over the Ikoyi billions,
alleging that the nation’s leadership
was covering up corruption because
its principal sponsor was involved.
Wike had on Friday insisted that the
huge sum stashed in an Ikoyi house
belonged to Rivers and should be
returned to the state, alleging that
the money was proceeds from the
sale of a state-owned gas turbine by
Amaechi.
Briefing Rivers Christian leaders on
the development at the Government
House, Port Harcourt, on Saturday,
Wike stated that the state
government was not interested in
the prosecution of Amaechi, but
simply seeking the return of funds
belonging to the state.
He said, should the Federal
Government return the “stolen
resources,” the said funds would be
deployed for the completion of
Amaechi’s abandoned monorail.
Wike explained that the promotion
of insults and needless propaganda
would not stop the Rivers State
Government from recovering its
stolen resources.
“The Federal Government wants us
to believe that a security agency will
keep a whopping N16bn in a private
residence in cash. They think that
Nigerians don’t have brains,” he said.
Open up on ownership, groups
tell EFCC
Civil rights groups, including the
Nigerian Voters’ Assembly and
Resource Centre for Human Rights
and Civic Education, on Saturday
urged the EFCC to open up on the
ownership of the recovered money.
The groups stated this in separate
interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH on
Saturday in Abuja.
The Manager (Media and Events) of
the CHRICED, Armsfree Ajanaku, said
the two claimants to the money had
a lot of explanations to make.
He said, “There is more to it than
meets the eye for the Rivers State
Government to be laying claims to
the recovered cash. The two stories
clearly do not add up.
“The two claimants have a lot of
explanations to give. We find it
extremely strange that an
intelligence agency like the NIA
would be lending the weight of its
institution to the warehousing of
millions of dollars in some private
apartment. The NIA’s story is
reminiscent of the botched $9m
arms deal, which was clearly shady
and specious.
“On the other hand, the story of the
Rivers Government does not add up
either. It is not enough to make wild
claims; those claims must be backed
up with evidence and a clear paper
trail.”
Also, the Sociö-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project said a court of
law should decide the controversies
surrounding the ownership of the $
43m recovered by the EFCC.
The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo
Mumuni, said this in an interview on
Saturday, adding that in the interest
of democracy, a decision that would
favour both sides has to be taken.
He said, “The money was not found
in Rivers State. But whatever
resolution we arrive at must be in
the interest of the two parties and
endearing to the fight against
corruption.”
On his part, the President of the
Nigerian Voters Assembly, Mashod
Erubami, said the claims by the NIA
and the Rivers State Government
were fraudulent.
He said, “The fight between NIA and
Rivers is neither here nor there, how
can NIA claim it has monies outside
its official quarters till in its office?
Such a claim is not only fraudulent
but equally unexplainably dubious.
Same goes to Rivers State
governor’s claim.”
According to him, the Federal
Government should ask the EFCC to
be more serious in handling its
investigations and be more
transparent and accountable.
“The EFCC should complete its work
circle before announcing the
success. Issues must be investigated
and fixed before announcement,” he
stated.
EFCC must tell Nigerians owners
of recovered billions — PDP
The national leadership of the
Peoples Democratic Party has said
the EFCC must tell Nigerians, the
owners of the billions of naira it has
recovered so far.
It said this was necessary in order
not to jeopardise the credibility of
the anti-graft war of the Federal
Government.
The Deputy National Chairman of the
party, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, in an
interview with one of our
correspondents in Abuja, said,
“Nigerians have the right to know
those who owned the billions of
naira that had been recovered so far.
This will definitely help in the war
against corruption, which the
Federal Government has been
emphasising.
“However, we need to be patient
and allow the EFCC to carry out its
investigations very well. The
commission may be holding back on
the identities in order to safeguard
national security.”
Copyright PUNCH.

http://punchng.com/seized-n13bn-investigators-probe-goodluck-jonathan-link/

A bag of GEJ campaign materials was also taken - that is so 'sensibless' - not just senseless.

Anybody that can't see Jonathan's connection with the money is simply myopic or insincere. NIA was used as a cover to launder the money for 2015 presidential. PDP members like FFK, Wike and Fayose knows the truth and that's why they are desperately trying to pin the money on Ameachi so as to confuse the people and muddle up the truth.

MakeADifference:
A bag of GEJ campaign materials was also taken - that is so 'sensibless' - not just senseless.

If it is true, what is the bag doing there with the money? Maybe it is part of the covert operation by NIA.

Useless people,now the are diverting attention.Who owns the apartment?.Simple question but no single answer.Ndi ara,this narrative is for the Zombies!!!

Rubbish. If someone in government is connected to that loot they should twell us already and stop all these stupid back and forth. Make una no spoil my Easter for me abeg.

GEJ's LOOT via NIA

seunmsg:
Anybody that can't see Jonathan's connection with the money is simply myopic or insincere. NIA was used as a cover to launder the money for 2015 presidential. PDP members like FFK, Wike and Fayose knows the truth and that's why they are desperately trying to pin the money on Ameachi so as to confuse the people and muddle up the truth.
8

Why some people non get sense. Is it that your brain is now wired by APC. So Amaechi's flat was use as campaign office for GEJ in 2015 abi?

So it was GEJ that carried dollars this April to BDC too as confessed by the BDC agent?

The 1st question you should be asking is to make public the owner of that flat which we already know and they are trying to cover up. Don't believe those nonsense writeup.

[s]

omenkaLives:
Rubbish. If someone in government is connected to that loot they should twell us already and stop all these stupid back and forth. Make una no spoil my Easter for me abeg.

[/s]lol

NextGovernor:
Why some people non get sense. Is it that your brain is now wired by APC. So Amaechi's flat was use as campaign office for GEJ in 2015 abi?

The 1st question you should be asking is the owner of that flat which they are trying to cover up. Don't believe those nonsense writeup.

Ameachi had denied ownership of the flat but since you are so sure that he's the owner, kindly provide us with proof of his ownership of this thread.

anoda failed tactics to shield d "big govt pipul" who owns ikoyi loot. d number ONE question dis directionless govt should be answering is; who lives in d appartment wia d monies was found they should keep decieving demselves trying to spin dis freshly minted monies on GEJ.

imagine d lying propaganda machinery even claim PDP's 2015 campaign materials was found along side ikoyi loot. i guess they forgot to include dat one in their famous "ikoyi cash recovery video" on youtube." keep on lying. u think u ar doing GEJ or PDP u ar doing urselves.

Make una leave talk jare

ruggedised:
common defend your masters (BMC)

Id be a fool to join issues with someone who opens his mouth to utter these words to his own brother simply because they dared to have a different opinion from his:

ruggedized1:
Daft you are not from Anambra. Ask you LovePeddler of a mother to tell you the truth. Every Anambra person is happy to have this project. It is only evil minded bastards like you that wishes it does not happen. Kill yourself but the airport project has taken off..

[s][/s]

You are a disgrace chino.

Bye.

so they have decided to blame Jonathan for a loot under buhari regime and the dates on the currency being 2016? APC well done o

I am not the same person as ruggedised

omenkaLives:
Bye.

seunmsg:
Ameachi had denied ownership of the flat but since you are so sure that he's the owner, kindly provide us with proof of his ownership of this thread.

Na now u know say proof dey exist? Then provide us proof it was 2015 presidential election funds as u earlier claim and all the accuse u have been accusing GEJ.... Always reasoning one sided.

NextGovernor:
Why some people non get sense. Is it that your brain is now wired by APC. So Amaechi's flat was use as campaign office for GEJ in 2015 abi?

So it was GEJ that carried dollars this April to BDC too as confessed by the BDC agent?

The 1st question you should be asking is to make public the owner of that flat which we already know and they are trying to cover up. Don't believe those nonsense writeup.

Splashme:
The kind of hatred PUNCH newspaper has for GEJ and his wife is out of this world.


All this attempt to divert our attention would fail

Stewpid PUNCH. Stewpid journalism.
Our media sometimes think Nigerians are fools

Ameachi's flat cos some stupeed sillly clowns like FFK and one inconsequential he goats like Lere and Wike said so? All i see is desperate attempts by yam eaters to undermine the fight against corruption.
First it was media propaganda by EFCC suddenly some mischievous people started mentioning Ameachi..and y'all are masturbating and littering everywhere with rotten cum

Wawoo! How this one take concern me again?
Ikoyi?