N3.2 billion fraud: Fani kayode finally surrender

Following allegations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had traced N3.145 billion transferred to the private accounts of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organization, the Director of Publicity of the Organization, and former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has exonerated himself from the said allegation.

According to EFCC sources who spoke with The Nation, the said fund emanated from the account of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and was transferred to the account of a company, Joint Dimensions Limited, and then sent to various accounts.

Fani-Kayode was said to have received N840 million, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, received an alleged N100 million through a company, Marreco Limited, where he is chairman.

The source added that N320 million was also paid into the bank account of the Goodluck Support Group, an association which played a major role in Jonathan’s campaign.

A former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa and a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, according to the EFCC source, got N350 million in two tranches. The first tranche of N150 million was paid into their joint account with Zenith bank on January 13, 2015. The second tranche of N200 million was credited into their account with Diamond bank.

Fani-Kayode was the chief beneficiary of the disbursement as he allegedly received a whooping N840 million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith bank, Maitama branch account with number 1004735721.

“The first tranche of payment involving N350 million hit the account on February 19, 2015. Another N250 million was also paid into the account on February 19, 2015, while N240 million was similarly credited to the account a month later; precisely, March 19, 2015.

“The balance in this account as of December 31, 2015 was N189, 402.72.” The source stated.

However, the former Aviation Minister while reacting to the allegations maintained that at no time did he participate in the sharing of public funds during the 2015 presidential campaigns. He maintained that the funds used during the election were gotten from public and private donations.

Speaking with the Punch, the former minister added that the monies that were spent were received from Senator Nenadi Usman, who was the Director of Finance of the campaign organization.

“I served as the director of publicity and I was told to set up an account for the directorate, which I did. I never received money from the CBN, but like all the other directors, we received money from the director of finance.

“I was assured that the monies were not public funds, but were sourced from private individuals. I never knowingly spent government money all through. The monies were spent specifically on the campaigns. The accounts were audited and we were commended by the President.”