CBN shared N3.2bn to Fani-Kayode, Falae, Udenwa, others, EFCC uncovers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly uncovered how N3.145b was paid into the accounts of six chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Goodluck Support Group, GSG.

The money was allegedly paid to them by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as the nation prepared for the  2015 presidential election.

According to EFCC findings, those who benefited included a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, a former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Viola Onwuliri and Mr. Okey Ezenwa.

A source within the EFCC said the money was paid by the CBN into the account of the Ministry of External Affairs Library, from where it was moved into the account of Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.

“It was from the Joint Dimension’s account with Zenith Bank that the money was shared to various individuals and organisations for purposes that are not stated,” the source said.

According to the source, Fani-Kayode got N840million, Goodluck Support Group got N320million, Achike Udenwa and Viola Onwuliri got N350million,  Nenadi Usman got N36.9million while  Okey Ezenwa was paid N100million.

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Giving details of how the money was disbursed, the source said: “Fani-Kayode allegedly received N840million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch account with No.1004735721.

“The first tranche of N350million hit the account on February 19, 2015; N250milion was also paid into the account on February19, 2015 while N240million was paid on March 19, 2015.

“The balance on this account as at 31st December, 2015 was N189, 402.72.

“The Goodluck Support Group received N320million

“Chief Falae allegedly received N100m through Marreco Limited, a company where he is chairman. The fund was credited into the company’s United Bank for Africa Plc account No. 1000627022 on March 25, 2014.

“Both Achike Udenwa and Viola Onwuliri got N350million in two tranches. The first tranche of N150million was paid into their joint account with Zenith Bank on January 13, 2015. The second tranche of N200miilion was credited into their account with Diamond Bank.

“Nenadi Usman was paid N36.9billion through her Zenith Bank account no. 1000158311 on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna. Ezenwa was paid N100million.”

EFCC Investigators are said to be probing why the PDP leaders got the cash.

“Detectives are trying to decipher the motives for the payments. But as things stand, the fact that most of the payments were made in the weeks preceding the last presidential election leaves very little to the imagination.

According to the source, the mystery investigators are trying to unravel is those behind Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited, whose account was used to warehouse the money before being wired to the beneficiaries.

“The shadowy figure could help unravel the mystery surrounding the payments, once if the veil is lifted.”

 

 

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