Much of the $2.1 billion arms funds which was allegedly mismanaged and is now being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been traced to 11 different accounts in the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and Niger Republic, The Nation reports.
According to the newspaper, its sources said yesterday that more accounts into which the funds were paid by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) might be uncovered in the next few weeks.
Although the payment mandates indicated that the wired funds were for technical equipment or supply of vehicles, the EFCC is interested in establishing whether or not the items were delivered and if the costs of the items were inflated or not.
Some of the transfers, according to sources, were effected through ONSA Foreign Operations Account No. 100367-USD-CABANK- with FBN Bank UK and a few others through the Central Bank of Nigeria and some commercial banks in the country.
Transfers being investigated are as follows:
$10million (July 11, 2014) BSIC-NIGER, Code Bank NE 110, Swift Code BSAHNENI, Account 020383700112 );
$38million paid to Societe Nigerienne de Banque (H0064B0100125111123981/22 CODEBIC( May 20, 2014)
$16million to a different account in Societe Nigerienne de Banque (H0064B0100125111123981/41 CODEBIC (May 20, 2014)
€1,401,869 transferred to SONIBANK (Republique du Niger (October 2, 2013)
€1, 395,346.84 to another account in SONIBANK( Republique du Niger on December 11, 2013
€2,252,252.25 wired to SONIBANK (Republique du Niger) on April 1, 2014.
$36million remitted into CitiBank N.A.Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB on May 20,2014;
$5million to CitiBank N.A. Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB on June 4, 2014
$30million to CitiBank N.A.Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB on March 9, 2015
$50million to Deutsche Bank Trust Company in New York on March 9, 2015
$6, 954,000 to Deutsche Bank Trust Company in New York on April 21, 2015
“We have succeeded in retrieving documents relating to some funds that were wired abroad by ONSA. We were able to identify more than 11 foreign accounts and the actual remittances,” The Nation quoted a ‘reliable source’ in the EFCC to have said.
“Already, we are tracking what the funds were used for including payment for technical equipment and supply of vehicles. Our investigation includes determining whether or not the equipment were bought and delivered; and whether the cost prices were inflated or not.
“This crucial aspect of investigation accounted for why some military officers were handed over to the EFCC for investigation.
“We are also collaborating with anti-corruption agencies in other jurisdictions to determine the validity of such transfers and confirm if the funds were not laundered.
“The EFCC is being painstaking in its investigation to ensure fairness to all suspects under probe.”
