$40m Pipelines Security Contract: EFCC wants to implicate Jonathan – Lawyer

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Gordy Uche, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of making his clients, Robert Azibaola and Dakoru Atukpa, write statements under duress in a bid to implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Azibaola, the managing director and Atukpa, executive director of Kakatar CE Limited and one Plus, had been in EFCC detention since 23 and 24 of March respectively in connection with an $40 million pipelines security contract.

Confirming the arrest of his clients, Uche demanded their immediate release if the anti-graft agency cannot charge them to court, adding that the EFCC does not have a justifiable reason to keep them in detention.

According to Uche, apart from being detained, the operatives of the commission had also been conducting several searches on the offices of the detained men, carting away several documents.

Uche also said he was reasonably informed that both men were being made to make statements under duress in a bid to implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Yes, EFCC arrested my clients, Messrs Azibaola Robert and Dakoru Atukpa, MD and ED respectively of Kakatar CE and One-Plus, on March 23 and 24 respectively when they went to honour EFCC’s invitation.”

According to a source close to the EFCC, the detention of both Azibaola and Atukpa was in connection of ongoing efforts by the agency to investigate confidants and companies close to some prominent politicians in the last dispensation in its corruption fight.

Read also: State govts hindering corruption cases – ICPC

Continuing, the source said both men were being detained for allegedly fronting for the politicians, with their company accounts frozen on allegation that they laundered money for them.

The source said: “Even though One-Plus claimed that the pipeline job was successfully executed, we want to know how it was awarded and who got paid for what from the $40 million.”

The source also disclosed that the detained men may not be released soon, as the EFCC already procured a court order to detain them beyond the stipulated time.

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