•Buhari has corrupted anti-corruption war. Fashola, Sylva ought to be facing trial too – Onovo
• Only the unlucky ones are facing the music – Balarabe Musa
• Begin probe from 1995 and Nigeria will be in smoke – Okoye
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Acting News Editor
Those behind the alleged looting of the $2 billion arms budget are having their day in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is staggering arraignment of those who allegedly diverted and benefitted from it.
EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has vowed to recover all the stolen money.
But holes are being picked in the anti-graft war by critics, among them former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, former National Conscience Party (NCP) presidential candidate, Martins Onovo, and his counterpart in the United Democratic Party (UDP), Godson Okoye.
Suspects on parade
Former DAAR Communications Chairman, Raymond Dokpesi, led the trail with his appearance in court on Wednesday, December 9 for allegedly obtaining N2 billion from the office of the national security adviser under false pretense.
Ruling on his bail application will be delivered tomorrow, Monday, December 14.
His trial begins on February 17, 18 and will stretch to March 2 and 3, 2016.
Those also billed for court appearance this week are former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki; former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu; former Executive Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Kusa; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and his son, Sagir.
The allegations against them include:
• Stealing, disbursing N10 billion to delegates to the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
• Giving N1.45 billion to Acacia Holdings for special prayers.
• Paying N750 million into the bank account of Reliance Referral Hospital for special prayers.
• Paying N670 million to THISDAY publisher, Nduka Obaigbena.
• Transferring N260million to former Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Chairman, Tony Anenih.
• Paying N345 million to former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu.
Catching only enemy thieves
Onovo said he expected the anti-corruption effort to be holistic.
His words: “We know the PDP used slush funds to finance its election, that is very obvious. We know the APC (All Progressives Congress) used slush funds to finance its election. That is also very obvious.
“The APC financed its election with over N100 billion, which is against the law. Where did the APC raise the money from? Why is it that the APC states can no longer pay salary? We know. During the presidential debate I said it clearly. This is not a secret.
“Everybody has to be prosecuted. There are published allegations against (former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde) Fashola. Fashola must be charged. There are published allegations by the Lagos State government, not by the NCP.
“Fashola must be charged. If he is not charged, the anti-corruption war is a scam.”
Fashola’s questionable expenditure
In August this year, the Lagos State government published on its website that Fashola spent N139 million on the drilling of two boreholes at Lagos House, Ikeja.
Experts have said that a state-of-the-art borehole with water treatment facilities and solar power plant should not cost more than N10 million.
The report also said the Fashola administration spent
• N640 million on the reconstruction of a car park and other associated works at Lagos House, Marina.
• N300 million for the relocation of cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
• N78.3 million on his website, tundefashola.com, and many other expenses allegedly inflated.
Many had expected the Senate to grill Fashola, now minister of Power, Works, and Housing, when he was screened for the job.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe asked if it was true that he spent N78 million on his website and N139 million on two boreholes among many other over-bloated expenses.
He simply said: “I don’t fix contract prices, it is an institutional process.
“The only training I have is that of a lawyer, but in order to execute works on a project we need the input of architects, quantity surveyors, structural engineers, and we have consulting ministries.
“For civil works it is the Ministry of Works, for science it is the Ministry of Science and Technology, among others.”
Fashola’s response nauseated Obiora Osokolo, a financial expert who said he expected the lawmakers to ask him on whose desk the buck stopped when he was governor.
Demand for Fashola’s investigation
Senators applauded Fashola for deflecting the blame to unknown officials. But Onovo insisted that he should be investigated thoroughly if President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war is to be taken seriously.
“I am aware of Fashola’s case because the Lagos State government published it. CACOL (Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders) wrote too. That is what I mean that there are published allegations against him.
“Those must be investigated thoroughly, and not with any bias, because if it is investigated with bias, we will know,” Onovo said.
He added that the APC government, after it was installed, withdrew the charges the EFCC filed against former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva.
“That is a fraud. You people must not support it. It will finish this country. This is the highest act of corruption by the APC government. Trying to corrupt the anti-corruption war.
“What of the N2.45 billion allegation against Sylva? Sylva was charged to court, and the case withdrawn.
“If he was in the PDP, the media would be celebrating, all of you would be rejoicing that we are fighting corruption.
“Today Sylva is APC gubernatorial candidate. Who is fooling who?”
Okoye said Buhari’s anti-corruption war has caught up with only the people allegedly involved in the past five years.
If the probe had extended to at least 20 years, he stressed, the country would have erupted in smoke given the staggering amount that would be uncovered as looted funds.
In his view, the trial would not go far because there is a systemic problem with the judiciary, prison system, and the security agencies.
Musa added that only the unlucky ones are being tried, as many treasury looters are going after their businesses unscathed because they are friends of the government.
He insisted that if Buhari wants to fight a holistic war, he has the powers to do it.