The federal government has released another list containing names of 23 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who allegedly helped themselves to public funds totaling $19.82 billion in foreign currency, and N320.066.
The latest list is in addition to the five names which the minister of information and culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed published last week.
In the new list are former service chiefs, ministers, governors, serving federal lawmakers as well top bureaucrats and business tycoons.
Mohammed said in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday that the new list and the one earlier released were not arbitrary but based on verifiable facts.
He said those complaining that the first list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.
“At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or just to shoot down anything coming from the government. The federal government has a large number of alleged looters on its list.”
“What was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expecting when it challenged the Federal Government to name the looters of the public treasury under the party’s watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke? Did they think it is April Fool?’’
Mohammed said the PDP’s reaction to the looters’ list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.
“The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party’s rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new leaf.
“It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this, hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence,’’ he said.
Below are names of the alleged looters issued by the minister.
- Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1billion military equipment scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any formal contract awards.
- Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes and royalty. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local and international to ensure justice.
- Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion recovered by EFCC in cash and property
- Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.
- Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.
- Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.
- Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.
- Senator Bala Mohammed, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.
- Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.
- Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion – from NSA.
- Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.
- Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.
- Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion
- Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million
- Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion
- Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million
- Tom Ikimi: N300 million
- Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million
- Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million
- Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion
- Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion
- Aliyu Usman Jawaz, close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million
- Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion
It would be recalled that the first list which attracted lots of flak, contained the name of the national chairman of PDP, Mr. Uche Secondus who was alleged to have taken N200 million only from the office of the former NSA.
Consequently he demanded an apology and threatened to take a legal action if the allegation was not retracted.
It would also be recalled that most of the persons named in the second list have had their cases in courts.
