February 19, (THEWILL) –Â The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied a report alleging that an accountant with the agency named Jafaru Mohammed, stole N10.9 billion.
A Nigerian news media (not THEWILL), had claimed that an EFCC accountant named Jafaru Mohammed stole the money from the recovered 13 billion NIA Ikoyi loot.
The report had claimed that Mohammed was in charge of the recovered 13 billion NIA Ikoyi loot, adding that the accountant stole N10.9 billion from the money.
However, the EFCC in a statement issued on Friday by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, described the claim as false, noting that it does not have any accountant named Jafaru Mohammed and could not have appointed him to serve in another agency.
The statement reads: âThe attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a report by an online news medium, Peoples Gazette, alleging that a certain Jafaru Mohammed, whom it claimed stole N10.9 billion from the NIA Ikoyi loot is an accountant of the EFCC.
âThe claim is false and intended to mislead the public. For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC has no accountant by name, Jafaru Mohammed and could not have appointed him to serve in another agency.
âIt is infantile to suggest that the commission would appoint an accountant for the NIA, which is not a department of the EFCC.
âThe public is enjoined to discountenance the report which is dripping with mischief, for which Peoples Gazette has become notorious.â
THEWILL recalls that the EFCC under former acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, had said its operatives uncovered about $43.5 million, £27,800 and N23.2 million inside Apartment 7B, Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos, on April 12, 2017.
The commission had said the discovery followed an operation triggered by a whistle blowerâs alert received by its Lagos office.
A media report later stated that the money was a discreet allocation released to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for major but covert security projects.
Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo had chaired a presidential investigation committee that grilled the sacked NIA DG, Ayo Oke, ex-EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu, among others.
A Brigadier General, Jafaru Mohammed, was reportedly accused of stealing a chunk of the money to purchase properties now forfeited to the Federal Government.
Mohammed is currently the Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
In 2017, the senior officer was appointed by Magu to oversee the N13 billion found in Ikoyi. The EFCC was then in charge of NIA bank accounts.
After Abdulrasheed Bawa assumed office last year, the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order on assets linked to Mohammed.
In March 2021, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/007/2021, directed the seal of the properties.
A House on Plot 7, Godâs Own Estate, Road 1, Wamna District, Abuja; a fenced plot at No 1 Jubril Aminu Crescent, Katampe Extension, Abuja; a plot at Kubwa Express, opposite Abuja Model City Gate; a house on Block SD 22 House 2, Road 5, Kabusa Garden Estate, Abuja.
Others are No 15, 21 Crescent, 2nd Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja; No 3 Liverpool Close, Sun City Estate, Abuja; No 52 Main Street, Sun City Estate, Abuja; No 25 Osaka Street, Sun City Estate, Abuja.
On February 14, 2022, Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted final forfeiture after an application by EFCC lawyers, Cosmos Ugwu and Musa Isah.
Additional properties seized include a Truck Assembly at Ring Road, adjacent to A A Affa Filling Station, Kano; Marhaba Event Place, Guda Abdullahi Road, Kano.
A plot located at Rake, adjacent to Dara Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano; 117 hectares of land at Adiabo, Oduapani LG, Calabar, with Certificate of Occupancy No. OD/23/2011 dated 21/2/ 2011.
Announcing the court ruling, the EFCC concealed Mohammedâs name but mentioned his accomplices.
The proxies include the late General Maude Aminun-Kano, Atlasfield Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, Marhaba Events Place, Aflac Plastics and Atlasfield Gas Plant Limited.
In August 2017, the citizens that provided intelligence on the NIA funds petitioned the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami.
The claimants, through their solicitors, accused the EFCC of failing to pay their whistleblower commission.
