The Nation is reporting that not fewer than seven governors have been linked with the alleged diversion of part of the N388.304billion London-Paris Club refunds into two accounts opened by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
The EFCC has discovered parts of the funds allegedly diverted by some governors
According to the newspaper, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered N19billion in one of the accounts while the other, a domiciliary account, also contains yet-to-disclosed amount of money.
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An EFCC source said the anti-corruption body’s detectives discovered that about 2% of the funds was paid to consultants who allegedly assisted in computing what was due to each state and 3% was shared by some governors under “curious circumstances”.
The source said: “The detectives have uncovered the two accounts opened in the name of the NGF and the signatories to same.
“We are looking into circumstances behind such huge deposits from London-Paris Club refunds into these accounts.
“The payment of 2% of the refunds to consultants and 3% to some governors which was rated as “curious” by investigators have been confirmed. We also discovered that some of the governors nominated these consultants.”
Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum Abdul-Aziz Yari had earlier expressed displeasure that the EFCC is harassing the NGF and its staff with the investigation.
The seven governors were not named but details are expected to be released immediately the investigation is concluded.
The source reported further that the EFCC has nothing against the governors as claimed earlier and confirmed that one of those questioned on the alleged diversion admitted that he changed some of the funds into dollars and handed it over to a principal officer of the National Assembly.
“It has no basis to run the NGF down at all, but you should know that the Presidency is interested in how these London-Paris Club refunds were spent.
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“We know the governors have immunity, but certainly NGF does not enjoy such constitutional protection. We are looking at what informed the transfer of such funds into the accounts of the NGF and for what purposes.
“Once the purposes are in line with statutory financial regulations and the EFCC is satisfied, the case is closed. But where there are cases of diversion and stealing of public funds, the law will take its course.”
The Federal Government released N388.304billion of the N522.74 billion funds to 35 states as refunds of overdeductions on London-Paris Club loans but there have been controversies over how the money was spent by governors.
Recall that the EFCC recently denied that it has found senate president Bukola Saraki and a host of state governors guilty of allegedly pocketing billions of naira in Paris club loan refund.
In a statement released on Monday, February 13, the EFCC said not only was the story against Saraki and the governors untrue, also false were allegations that officials of the agency were trying to cover up the indictments.
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