*As EFCC widens dragnet, arrests 3 bank CEOs
By Chesa Chesa
Following revelations that a firm linked to him secured a N438 million consultancy contract under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Minster of the Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday to confer with President Bola Tinubu.
There were conflicting reports concerning his presence in the Presidential Villa as some had suggested that the Minister was summoned by President Tinubu to explain the issues connected with the N438 million controversy.
Other accounts however, maintained that he was in the seat of power on a routine ministerial visit.
A presidency official explained that the Minister’s presence in the Presidential Villa was routine affair but said the controversy could not have been avoided during the meeting, but was not forthcoming on details.
“One cannot rule out the possibility of the prevailing matter forming the crux of their closed door meeting”, the insider said.
When asked to comment on the controversy, Tunji-Ojo simply told correspondents: “We are too intelligent to be stupid.”
The Interior Minister had denied any involvement in the N438 million contract awarded to New Planet Project Limited that he co-founded.
He had explained in an interview on Monday night on Channels Television that he was no longer involved in the running of the firm having resigned as a director in 2019.
At least three other ministers including Hanatu Musawa (Arts and Creative Economy), Shuaibu Audu (Steel Development) and Adebayo Adelabu (Power) were also at the Villa on Tuesday
Meanwhike, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Zenith, Providus, and Jaiz banks have been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) amid a sweeping investigation into an embezzlement scheme linked to former and current Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu and Sadiya Umar-Farouq.
The affected CEOs are Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu (Zenith Bank), Haruna Musa (Jaiz Bank), and Walter Akpani (Providus Bank).
Sources who confirmed the development on condition of anonymity said the arrests was made on Tuesday.
According to the source, the banking executives, long suspected of facilitating the improper diversion of public funds into private accounts, are now facing the music within the confines of EFCC custody.
The anti-graft agency is dissecting a web of suspicious transactions involving hefty sums of public money funnelled into private accounts, allegedly approved by Edu and Farouq leveraging their ministerial positions.
Farouq, who led the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari, is additionally accused of mismanagement of N37 billion earmarked for the conditional cash transfer program during President Buhari’s tenure.
The source revealed that a potential deliberate lapse in flagging suspicious activity by the banks – a crucial responsibility mandated by anti-financial crime laws and Central Bank directives – played a critical role in the brazen misappropriation of public funds.
EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale was not reachable to confirm the development as at press time.
With additional report from The Guardian Newspaper..
