The federal government has constituted a special task force and directed it to recover over N5 trillion owed to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo announced this during a meeting with board members and management of AMCON and selected heads of government agencies, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday evening.
Agencies whose heads attended the meeting were those of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and also the permanent secretaries of the justice and transport ministries.
Spokesman for the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande said in a statement yesterday that membership of the task force comprises the heads of AMCON, EFCC, NFIU, ICPC and the ministry of justice.
The vice president said the agencies “will be working to develop and implement new strategies that will ensure that the determination of the federal government to recover the money is speedily achieved.”
He tasked all the relevant agencies to re-strategise to achieve the desired results.
“The key is collaboration. We need a small team comprising these agencies to look at the next steps that we need to take, especially the criminal aspect, forfeiture, and all of that,” he said.
He said the task force should look at the top 20 AMCON defaulters closely and develop a plan of action that brings results.
Akande recalled that the vice president had in May met with AMCON management to discuss how to resolve the issue.
He quoted the AMCON chairman, Mr. Muiz Banire to have disclosed at the meeting that almost 67 per cent of the outstanding N5tn debt is owed by just 20 individuals/entities.
Banire noted that the agency had been “trying its best in its attempt to recover this through the civil judicial process, but had encountered several challenges.”
Present at the May meeting were the acting chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu; chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; director/chief executive, NFIU, Mr. Modibbo Tukur; permanent secretary, federal ministry of transportation, Mr. Sabiu Zakari; and other senior government officials.
Meanwhile, the list of debtors published by AMCON shows that Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited promoted by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Young People’s Party (YPP) owes N115,952,152,265.92; NICON Investments Limited promoted by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim is indebted to the tune of N59,544,633,980.31 while Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL) promoted by Dr. Wale Babalakin owes N40,798,422,374.02.
Others are, Josepdam & Sons Limited (Late Mrs. Josephine Damilola, KuteyiSaheed Kuteyi, Ganiyu Kuteyi), N39,056,674,951.55, Tinapa Business Resort (Cross River State Government), N36,006,319,844.68, Home Trust Savings, (Chukwukadibia Ajaegbu, Funmu Ademosun), N30,626,243,344.71; Geometric Power Limited (Prof. Barth Nnaji, Nnaji Agatha, Obibuaru Eluma, and others, N29,844,500,896.77, Roygate Properties Limited, (Wale Babalakin, Agumadu John, Alarape Olabode, Okhaleke Ndudi, N28,137,176,532.32; Shell Development Petroleum Company – West Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited (SPDC) (Shell Staff, represented by Ikponmwosa Ogiemuda), N26,474,541,188.17 and Anyiam Osigwe Limited (Anyiam-Osigwe and Dorothy Chinyere), N20,523,322,350.29.
The rest are Platinum Capital promoted by Obire RichardFrancis Atuche, N20,378,820,507.19; Flotsome Investment Limited (Oboden IbruTejiro Ibru), N20,218,703,550.96; Lonestar Drilling (Late Chief Idisi Margaret Idisi), N20,207,979,803.22; Petrologistics Limited (Ugoji Egbujo), N19,576,962,565.35; Lorna Global Resources, (H.E. Chimaroke Nnamami), N18,919,109,352.85; Hosanna Properties Limited, (Anionye ChikaObi Ike C.) N18,059,895,396.27; Minaj Holdings Limited (Ajegbo Mike Nnayeluchudihu, Luke Chidi, Chudihuilogu Miller Gregrey, Ethridge Kyle, Attueyi Joe, Oladele Afolabi, Okpere Kisito, Kokoricha Paul), N17,306,900,257.66; Afrijet Airlines Limited (Nnoelle Willam, Barry Carr Collin), N13,122,022,439.57; Petroleum Brokers Limited, (Wilcox Awopuolagha), N13,076,314,937.26 and, Hotel De Island; Kasmal Properties; Island Autos & Nacoil Kashamu (Kashamu Prince Buruji), N13,015,595,907.67.
