Nduka |
As
the ongoing probe of $2.1billion arms deals continues, the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday gave “ThisDay” publisher Prince Nduka
Obaigbena a two-week ultimatum to refund N670million allegedly collected for
unexecuted contracts.
Obaigbena
told investigators that he never benefitted from slush funds from the
Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
He
said the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan paid the said sums to
“ThisDay” and
the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) as compensation for
the bombing of the newspaper house by Boko Haram and the seizure of
copies of many newspapers by the military.
He
said there was a presidential proclamation by former President Jonathan that “ThisDay” will be
compensated for the loss to Boko Haram.
He
said Jonathan made the pledge after an inspection visit to the newspaper.
Obaigbena was quizzed for two days on the activities of General
Hydrocarbons and inflow into the company’s account from ONSA.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “What we are
investigating is General Hydrocarbons. Records from the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC) indicated that Nduka Obaigbena is a director of the company.
“ONSA reported that General Hydrocarbons was one of the companies
that received payments purportedly for contracts without contract documents or
approval.
“Between December 8, 2014 and May 23, 2015, Obaigbena
received N670million from ONSA. The reasons stated on the payment mandates are
as follows: First tranche of N150million(environmental security project) and
the remaining tranches(payment for energy consultancy)
“Obaigbena said he was paid compensation of N550 million for
the bombing of “ThisDay”
office in Abuja but there is no nexus between this payment and the money he
collected for contracts. None of the sums shows that what he got from ONSA was
compensation.
“The complaint before us is that the company was given money
without contractual agreement.
“By all records, Obaigbena was paid for unexecuted contracts.
It is government’s funds and he has to refund the N670million, “ an EFCC
official said last night.
Another source privy to the investigation said: “The EFCC has
given Obaigbena a maximum of two weeks to refund the amount he collected from
ONSA.
“Obaigbena has signed an undertaking to refund the money in
question. The anti-graft commission has also granted him an
administrative bail.”
On the payment made to NPAN, the source simply said:
“Investigation is still in progress.”
The source added that EFCC operatives were courteous and
Obaigbena was friendly and unperturbed during the investigation.
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