The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized 18 houses in an estate
allegedly belonging to Alhaji Aliyu Usman, an associate of the embattled former
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Usman
as well as two companies linked to him- Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited and
Nordeen Global Resources – were among 300 others listed as persons who
allegedly received contracts from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The
EFCC said Musa allegedly diverted N897m he received from the ONSA fund and
allegedly used it to construct the estate.
The
inscription, ‘EFCC, Keep Off!’ was seen on the 18 terrace houses in the estate
which is located at Mbora District, Abuja.
Usman
also allegedly used part of the money to buy a three bed-roomed flat at OAU
Quarters Wuse 2 Abuja
The
EFCC said, “The EFCC is investigating the involvement of Aliyu Usman, who is
linked with Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited and Nordeen Global Resources for their
involvement in the monumental fraud that allegedly took place in the Office of
the National Security Adviser during the regime of the embattled Col. Sambo
Dasuki.
“The
two companies allegedly received about N897m from the arms deal funds from ONSA
and diverted part of the money in the construction of an estate with 18 unit
blocks of flats at Mbora District Abuja and another for the purchase of a three
bed-roomed flat at OAU Quarters Wise II Abuja.”
A
committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the NSA from 2011 to 2015 had
last year indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens including
serving and retired officers of the armed forces.
Mallam
Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, had said in March
last year that over N7bn had been recovered so far from the indicted companies
and individuals.
Another
N41bn is to be refunded by the indicted companies while further investigation
by the EFCC had been ordered to determine whether another N75bn should be
recovered from some of the companies for unexecuted or partially executed
contracts.
The
statement said the committee further established that one of the indicted
companies, Societe D’Equipment International, was overpaid to the tune of €7.9m
and $7.09m.
The
committee discovered that there was a total disregard of key provisions of the
Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts by ONSA.
“Several
contractors were apparently overpaid, while others were given full upfront
payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in force,” Garba had
said.
Over
30 persons and companies are under prosecution by the EFCC for their alleged
role in the scam while a few others have since fled the country.
Source:Punch
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