President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola
Roberts, remains in detention over a $40million (N12.7b) contract obtained from
the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) to ‘pacify’ militants in the
Niger Delta.
Roberts, who was arrested alongside colleague
Dakoru Atukpa, is the Managing Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering
Company Limited and One-Plus Holdings.
Gordy Uche (SAN), accused the EFCC of embarking
on a vendetta mission against the ex-President.
He said Roberts is being persecuted because of
his blood link with Jonathan.
The EFCC arrested Roberts and Dakoru on March 23
as part of the ongoing probe of 300 companies involved in phantom contracts at
the ONSA.
It was gathered that as at last night, the
suspects, who could not meet their bail terms, were still with the EFCC.
A source in the commission said: “The suspects
were arrested in respect of payment of $40million by ONSA for a contract which
was tagged as purchase of tactical equipment for Special Forces.
“When they interacted with our investigators,
they could not explain what the contract was meant for. They said they
used the money to pacify militants in the Niger Delta.
“Even though we wanted to accept their claim,
there is no documentary evidence to show how the $40m contract was awarded, how
it was disbursed and the list of beneficiaries.
“The case is not about being a blood relation of
a former President or not. Is he the only relation of the ex-President?
“We are looking into payments made by ONSA and
$40miilion was advanced without any record of how the contract or how it was
awarded or done.”
The Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Mr.
Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the investigation of Jonathan’s cousin and
Dakoru, said the agency had been fair in investigating the $40million.
He said: “It is true that they are being held and
investigation is still ongoing.
“But two days after their arrest, they were
offered administrative bail with two sureties who must be of the rank of
director in the civil service. The sureties were expected to provide evidence
of tax payment and N250million bank guarantee.
“ But the suspects failed to produce
any surety, which made the commission to legally approach a court for an order
to detain them.”
The suspects’ lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN), in
a statement in Abuja, accused the EFCC of embarking on a vendetta mission
against former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the Federal Government is still owing his
client $4million being balance of the contract sum for “successfully securing
oil pipelines which saw Nigeria reap billions of US dollars from increased oil
production”.
He asked the commission to “either charge my
clients to court or release them on bail.”
Uche said: “My client(Roberts) is being
persecuted and punished because of his DNA, as a relative of Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan.
“My clients(Roberts and Dakoru) are
innocent until proven guilty, according to the laws of Nigeria. So, their
continuous detention is a breach of their fundamental human rights as free
citizens of Nigeria. The appropriate thing for the EFCC to do in this
circumstance is to release them now or charge them to court.”
Uche accused the Office of the National Security
Adviser (NSA) of shirking its responsibility for the payment of the outstanding
$4m due to his client as honorarium for an assignment which he said his client
helped the Federal Government execute and for which the government reaped
billions of dollars in return.
“It is impunity and breach of their fundamental
human rights. We have a civil dispute and then you turn around to lock up the
party with whom you have a dispute. Then, you go ahead to give him impossible
bail conditions.
“Two federal serving directors each with
properties in Maitama or Asokoro and the original of their Certificate of
Occupancy; the four directors are also required to present bail bonds of N250m
each from reputable banks. Robert and Atukpa are also required to deposit their
international passports.
“Which serving director in Nigeria today has
property in Asokoro or Maitama district, and can boast of N250million? It’s
like saying bring the bones of your grandmother alive before we grant you bail.
“The annoying thing is that while we were working
to fulfill the bail conditions, the EFCC went to court and obtained a remand
order, which means that the commission never intended to grant them bail in the
first place.
”If the NSA has a civil complaint against
our client for ‘breach of contract’ and wants refund of money, the best thing
to do is to file a civil complaint and allow an impartial judge to determine
the case on merit.
“The EFCC is insisting that Oneplus Holdings
should show proof of work done, including receipts of payments made to third
parties from the proceeds of the said contract, or in the alternative refund
the $40m to government coffers. It is for this reason that Robert and Atukpa
have been held captive and locked up incommunicado by the EFCC for over two
weeks.
“On assumption of office, President Muhammadu
Buhari set up a presidential panel to investigate all contracts awarded by the
Jonathan administration from 2011 to 2015.
“ The committee investigated contracts of 300
firms and individuals and made far-reaching recommendations, which include
refund of money, further investigation, etc.
“Oneplus Holdings was recommended for further
investigation, which meant the committee had reservations on the execution of
the contract, even when it was clear the company appeared before the
presidential committee and provided all the information it requested.
“However, of great concern is why Oneplus
Holdings was singled out of the 300 companies and individuals for its
immediate action.
“ “If you look at that list (of the presidential
committee), Oneplus is neither number one nor the last on it. So, why pick on
Oneplus Holdings first?”
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