Lai Mohammed: Buhari Not Dictating To EFCC

The federal government has refuted claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the arrest of its spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is an attempt to silence the opposition.

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at which President Muhammadu Buhari presided.

While answering questions from journalists, Mohammed said the federal government does not dictate to the anti-corruption agencies how to do their work.

Following the arrests of a former National Chairman of PDP, Haliru Bello, and his son, as well as the party’s spokesperson, there have been growing allegations that the Buhari administration is trying to emasculate the opposition.

Mohammed said: “I think the first point to make is that this government is not micromanaging any of the anti-graft agencies. I know for a fact that they don’t contact the president or anybody before they do their job.

“I think the media also have to do more than they are doing right now. They should investigate these allegations and also make their independent judgments about them.

“Honestly, if the EFCC or ICPC says that they are able to trace certain amounts of money to my account, I don’t want you to believe it, I want you to also ask for proof. Do your investigation.

“I can assure you that this government, no functionary in government micromanages or directs the EFCC or ICPC on who to arrest and who not to arrest.”

Despite the rebuttal by the federal government, a chieftain of the PDP and pioneer Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said yesterday that there was nothing incriminating about the much-flaunted disbursement of the $2.1 billion diverted by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for which he was arrested and charged before the court.

The Edo-born politician was arrested and later charged to court for being a beneficiary of funds from ONSA allegedly meant for the purchase of arms for the ongoing war against terror.

Dokpesi, who spoke for the first time since securing bail from the court, said the courts would soon vindicate his position that the entire drama was nothing but a hoax aimed at decimating the leadership and membership of the PDP.

“I must hasten to assure you that there is nothing like the much flaunted $2.1 billion arms-gate. The competent courts of our land would sooner or later prove this coinage aimed at decimating the leadership and membership of our great party to be nothing but a hoax,” he said.

Ahead of the PDP’s national convention in March, Dokpesi said the party was bracing up for reform, rebranding and restructuring which are expected to follow immediately after the congresses scheduled to commence next week.

Dokpesi accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making efforts to impede the journey of the country to political maturity through the manipulation of the federal system to serve purely partisan interests.

“Our party is indeed experiencing massive persecution, political reprisals and vendetta of the kind never before seen on our shores and targeted at the leadership, membership and indeed sympathisers of the PDP by the APC government of the day.

“I speak with regards to several matters before the law courts of our country concerning PDP members and especially my humble self on charges filed against us by the federal government and would crave your indulgence not to make any comments as doing so would be subjudice.

“However let me call on all members of the PDP nationwide especially you members of the youth vanguard to remain firmly resolute and stand behind the leadership of the party at all levels in our bid to ensure the party gets a fair hearing and judgments in all the cases at the various election tribunals and courts.

“The provisions of Section 287 of our constitution are very clear on the obedience of court orders by all arms of government.

“Some of us are reminded of the events of 1984-85 which by any stretch of comparison are similar to the unfolding events of today. As I have said not too long ago, we must stand resolutely united especially in the face of this momentary political adversity.
“For one thing, I say again that the PDP is not dead, is not dying and will not die,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the National Youth Vanguard, its coordinator, Ibrahim Bala Aboki, said the group would not relent in its struggle against the selective persecution targeted at PDP members.

He praised the dogged spirit exhibited by Dokpesi in trying to galvanise action to ensure the resuscitation of the PDP.

“The National Youth Vanguard will always stand by you. We are truly aware that the struggle will not be easy but we hope to surmount the distractions of the APC. The APC has continued to victimise leaders and all members of the PDP through their selective and imaginary fight against corruption,” he said.

He observed that the APC-led administration had come to the conclusion that whoever joins their party has automatically transformed into a saint.

One of the highlights of the event was the crowning of its patron, Chief Dokpesi, as the “Freedom Fighter of PDP” to signify his dogged stance to work for the rebuilding of the opposition party to regain its once formidable position.

Aboki, who earlier addressed a protest rally organised by the group at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, accused the APC-led administration of offering Nigerians nothing but hunger and great uncertainty

.Meanwhile, a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, has written to the EFCC detailing how he disbursed the N260 million paid into his bank account from ONSA.

According to sources in the commission, his detailed response, following his invitation by the EFCC recently, might have weakened the anti-graft agency’s case against the PDP chieftain.

A senior operative of the commission told THISDAY in Abuja yesterday that the seven-page letter by Anenih, who is ailing and just underwent heart treatment abroad, responded to EFCC’s questions and provided details into how the money was utilised.

According to the EFCC source, “In line with our request, we received a seven-page letter from Chief Tony Anenih detailing how and why he received N260 from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“In his letter, he explained that the money was part of the huge financial expenses former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, requested him to disburse from his pocket to some political interest groups and individuals before the 2015 general election, and that the payment was a refund from Jonathan.

“He (Anenih) further stated in his letter that after he had disbursed the money, he called former President Goodluck Jonathan for a refund, and Jonathan later requested him to send his bank account details for payment. He said he was in his house one day when he received a credit alert from his bank.”

The PDP chieftain was said to have further stated in his letter to the EFCC that he later got to know that the former president had requested ONSA to pay the money into the account number he had sent to him.

“Chief Anenih stated emphatically in his letter that there was never a time he collected arms’ money from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. He gave names of all the beneficiaries of the N260 million and that of the N53 million paid to Alhaji Tanko Yakasai was the least of the lot,” the source added.

Providing more insight, Yakasai yesterday told journalists that Anenih actually gave him and eight other prominent northerners N53 million for advocacy visits to northern traditional rulers including first class northern emirs to ensure that 2015 general election was free and fair and devoid of violence.

Yakasai, who was once an aide to former President Shehu Shagari, said the money only catered to the group members’ allowances, transportation and hotel accommodation on a tour that took them to 18 states in the north.

Yakasai reportedly refuted any link between the money and campaigns for the former president and listed the former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Mr. Bitrus Gwada, Alhaji Suleiman Lawal, Dr. Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi as beneficiaries of the money.

Yakasai said the tour took them to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III; the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris; the Emirs of Gwandu, Anka, Ilorin, Nassarawa, Minna, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia and representatives of the Emir of Daurawa, among others.

THISDAY also gathered yesterday that the presidential panel set up by Buhari to investigate the utilisation of funds for the procurement of arms by previous administrations has traced N400 million to a serving military officer’s bank account in Abuja.

A member of the panel, who spoke with THISDAY in confidence, said the army officer, who was part of the arms procurement team, confessed to receiving the money.

“Our efforts at getting to the root of the arms deals are yielding results,” he said.

Source: ThisDay