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| Senate President Bukola Saraki |
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has furnished President Muhammadu Buhari with details of how the
President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, and his aides allegedly
laundered up to N3.5 billion from the Paris Club loan refund, PREMIUM TIMES reported.
The report, compiled by detectives
in the anti-graft agency, followed months of investigation, and was submitted
to the president on March 10, 2017, days before the senate rejected his
nomination a second time, insiders at the presidency told this medium.
In the report by PREMIUM
TIMES, the EFCC narrated how Mr. Saraki, using his deputy chief of staff and
other aides, laundered N3.5 billion that he allegedly received from the Paris
Club loan refund to state governors.
The manner the Paris Club loan
refund was spent by public officials has been a subject of nationwide
controversy for several weeks, with EFCC hinting at some point that an
investigation was underway.
But the governors pushed back
against the allegations, describing the EFCC’s probe of the fund as
“unwarranted attack on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, its officials and
associated entities.”
But in its report to the president,
the EFCC detailed how Mr. Saraki, in 2016, introduced Gbenga Makanjuola, a
former lawmaker who now serves as his deputy chief of staff, to Kathleen
Erhimu, an Access Bank staff.
The EFCC identified Ms. Erhimu as
Mr. Saraki’s relationship manager at Access Bank.
Mr. Makanjuola would later work
with Robert Mbonu, a former managing director of Heritage Bank, whose firm,
Melrose General Services Limited, was said to have served as consultant to the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
In its March 10 correspondence, our
sources said, the EFCC informed President Buhari that Mr. Mbonu received N3.5
billion in mid-December 2016, part of which was later transferred to accounts
and persons linked to the senate president.
“A prima facie case of conspiracy
to retain the proceeds of unlawful activities and money laundering contrary to
Sections 15(3) and 18(9) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004 can be
established against the aforementioned suspects,” the EFCC told Mr. Buhari in
the report.
“Additionally, investigation into
their personal accounts is ongoing.”
The report could further complicate
things for Mr. Saraki, who is already standing trial on separate charges of
false declaration of assets since 2015.
Yusuf Olaniyonu, a spokesperson for
Mr. Saraki, in his response said the allegations were false and were Mr. Magu’s
way of fighting back after he was denied confirmation by the Senate. But the
report was forwarded to the president on March 10, while the Senate rejected
Mr. Magu’s nomination on March 15.
Mr. Makanjuola, did not respond to
requests for comments.
The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson
Uwujaren, did not respond to requests for comments either.
Read excerpts of the EFCC damning
findings below; and Mr. Saraki’s response below that.
“Mr. Robert Mbonu is alleged to
have received the sum of N3.5billion into his company’s account(Melrose General
Services Limited) from the NGF through Account 0005892453 domiciled in Access
Bank.
“Investigation revealed that one
Kathleen Erhimu is the Relationship Manager to Dr. Bukola Saraki’s account with
Access Bank.
“That Saraki at a meeting
introduced one Joseph Oladapo Idowu and Gbenga Peter Makanjuola to her and Hon.
Makanjuola thereafter introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Ms Kathleen Erhimu.
“That Mbonu operates an account,
Melrose General Services with Access Bank Plc 0005892453 and 0005653500 which
was up till 13th December a business account.
“That Halima Kyari, the Head of
Private Banking Group stated in a letter dated 13th December 2016, Mr. Robert
Mbonu requested a transfer of Melrose General Services Company account from
Business Account to a Private Banking Group Platform as he was expecting huge
funds into the account.
“Subsequently, on the 14th
December, the sum of N3.5 billion was lodged into Melrose General Services
Company account number 0005892453 domiciled in Access Bank from the Nigerian
Governors Forum (NGF).
“That thereafter Mr. Obiora Amobi
and Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola were introduced to Access Bank as representatives of
Melrose General Services Limited by Robert Mbonu to enable them cash
withdrawals from the account.
“That Mr. Obiora Amobi and Gbenga
Makanjuola made cash withdrawals of various tranches of N5million and
N10million.
“That one Oluyemi Braithwaite, the
MD/ CEO of Reinex Bureau de Change, Caddington Capital Limited and Westgate
Limited also manages a BDC stated to have known Mbonu as a client and he
requested for dollars in exchange for the Naira equivalent which were to be
handed over to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja.
“That Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite
contacted one Hassan Dantani Abubakar, the owner of Hamma Procurement Limited,
Ashrab Nigeria Limited and Insoire Solar Application to make available the
dollars based on the Naira equivalent as transferred from Robert Mbonu who she
had introduced via phone to Hassan Dantani.
“That on 16th December 2016,
Melrose General Services transferred the sum of N246million to Hamma
Procurement First Bank Accouny No. 2030756168 in exchange for the sum of
$500,000 which was handed to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja who acknowledged receipt
of the same amount.
“That on the 21st Dec 2016, Ms
Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted Hassan Dantani Abubakar requesting for another
transaction of $370,000. Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum
of N181m to Inspire Solar Application. The $370,000 was handed over to one Mr.
Dapo in Abuja
“That on the 4th of January 2017,
Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N248,
500,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite who
transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB account, Ashrab Nigeria
Limited for the sum of $500,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to Mr.
Kolawole Shittu in Abuja
“That on the 10th of January 2017,
Mr. Robert Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum
of N99,820,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms. Oluyemi
Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB Ashrab
Nigeria Limited for the sum of $200,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over
to one Mr. Peter in Abuja.
“That on the 19th December, there
was a cash withdrawal of the sum of N50 million from Melrose General Services
account via cheque by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola.
“Also, the sum of $1,570,000 was
received by the trio of Mr. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu and
Mr. Oladapo Joseph Idowu at various times and locations at Abuja FCT.
“That on the 29th December, 2016,
Mr. Robert Mbonu called Mrs. Kathleen Erhimu of Access Bank requesting her to
source for a customer that would have the sum of $500,000 in exchange for the
Naira equivalent. She introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Acarast Commercial Limited
and Capital Field Investment to help him source for dollars.
“That on the 21st December 2016,
GCA Energy Limited paid the sum of $25,000 to Asterio Energy Services Limited
which subsequently transferred the sum of $23,200 to Cactus Communication
Limited account with Access Bank.
“The MD of Sought-After International
Synergy Limited, Julius Okedele stated that Mr. Kelechi Edomobi of Acarast
Commercial Enterprises contacted him and requested to purchase dollars after
the transfer of N73,950,000 to Sought-After International Synergy Limited. Mr.
Edomobi gave him the account number of Cactus Communication Limited Access Bank
as the nominated account to receive the dollar equivalent of the sum of
$149,000.
“Investigation further confirmed
that Cactus Communication Limited is owned and operated by Joseph Oladapo
Idowu, an aide to Bukola Saraki.
“That Mr. Kelechi Edomobi also
transferred the sum of N1m on the 15th of January 2017 to Joseph Oladapo
Idowu’s personal account number 0001679877 with Access Bank Plc.
“That Asterio Energy Services
Limited on 21st and 22nd December 2016 transferred $100,000 and $85,000 to
Bhaskar Devji Jewellers LLC in Dubai respectively the same company that Dr.
Bukola Saraki repeatedly made transfer to from his Black Card Account.
“That Cactus Communication Limited
on 30th December 2016 paid the sum of $59,,660.67 to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers
LLC in Dubai .
“That Asterio Energy Services
Limited on 20/1/2917, 30/1/2017 and 31/1/2017 transferred $46,000, $39,000 and
$37,620 respectively to Cactus Communication Limited
“Based on the foregoing findings, it
is clear that Robert Mbonu, the Managing Director of Melrose General Services
Company and his company were used to help divert proceeds of unlawful
activities under the guise of payment for contractual obligations with the
Nigerian Governors Forum ( NGF).
“Suffice to apprise that all
payments received by Melrose General Services Company from the NGF have
hitherto been diverted directly via cash withdrawals and indirectly through
transfers by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Joseph
Idowu who are principal aides of the Senate President.
“Furthermore, other payments from
Melrose General Services Company has also been linked to companies that Dr.
Bukola Saraki has interest in and carry out transactions with.
“This includes the sum of $183,000
which was transferred to Bhaska Devji Jewellers, Dubai, a company Dr. Bukola
Saraki had repeatedly made payments to.
“Also, the sum of N200million was
transferred to Wasp Networks Limited that subsequently transferred the sum of
N170million to Xtract Energy Services Limited, a company that routinely made
deposits into Dr. Bukola ‘s Access Bank United States Domicilliary Account.
“Mr. Bosun Ottun, the Managing
Director of Xtract Energy Services, a company that deals in forex trading
confirmed that Wasp Networks Limited transferred N170,000,00 on January 16,
2017, to Xtract Energy Services Ltd.’s FCMB account for the purchase of
$350,000 which he later transferred into Wasp Networks Stanbic IBTC Bank United
States Dollar domiciliary account.
“That Wasp Networks has returned to
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recovered funds the sum of
N200,000,000 paid to the company by Mr. Robert Mbonu.
“That Mr. Robert Mbonu through
Melrose General Services Company paid N20,000,000 to Thebe Wellness Services.
“That Dr. Richardson A. Ajayi, the
Managing Director of Thebe Wellness Services confirmed that N20,000,000 from
Melrose General Services was a loan from Mr. Robert Mbonu which was to be used
as an investment in the Thebe Wellness Services.
“That Thebe Wellness Services has
returned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recovered funds the
sum of N20,000,000 paid to the company by Mr. Robert Mbonu.
“Investigation also revealed that
Acarast Commercial Enterprises was operated and owned by one Mr. Kelechi Edmobi
who equally owned the following companies: Edmonton Commercial Services,
Arcadian Energy Services Limited, Asterio Energy Services Limited.
“That Kelechi Edmobi uses the
companies listed in xxxi above for foreign exchange transactions and bureau de
change services.
“That Acarast Commercial received
the sum of N92, 685, 000 from Melrose General Services on December 20, 2016 and
paid the sum of N12, 000,000 to GCA Energy Limited, the sum of N73, 950,000 to
Sought-After International Synergy Ltd. and N9, 500,000 to Vertice Solution
Limited.
“$1, 570, 000 was also received
from various Bureau de Change operators by the trio of Gbenga Peter Makanjuola,
Mr. Kolawole Shittu, Mr. Oladapo Joseph at various locations at Abuja, FCT.
“That on December 29, 2016, Mr.
Robert Mbonu called Mrs. Kathleen Erhimu of Access Bank requesting her to
source for a customer that could have the sum of $500,000 USD in exchange for
the naira equivalent. She introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Acarast Commercial
Limited and Capital Field Investment Limited to help him source for the
dollars.
“That Melrose General Services
Company Limited through their Access Bank account transferred the sum of N248,
750,000 to Capital Field Investment Limited in exchange for a $500,000 USD which
was later transferred by Capital Field Investment Limited to Mr. Michael Prest
of Petrodel Resources Nevis Limited United States dollars domiciliary account
in Lloyds Bank, United Kingdom.
“That Mr. Robert Mbonu stated that
he transferred the funds to Mr. Michael Prest for him to bid for products which
would be refunded if he was successful in the bid of crude oil product and
there was no contractual agreement entered into by both parties. However, Mr.
Michael Prest is a close friend to Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“That Mr. Robert Mbonu through
Melrose General Services Company Limited Access Bank Account transferred N92,
685,000 to Acarast Communication Limited in exchange for a $183,000 USD which
was later transferred to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers in Dubai for purchase of
jewelleries.
“However, investigation revealed
that Dr. Bukola Saraki from his United States dollars domiciliary black card
account number: 0058931185 with Access Bank transferred the sum of $19,649.44
USD, $2, 817.86 USD and $19,725.02 USD on 23/09/13. 16/12/14 and 16/12/14,
respectively, to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers in Dubai.
“That Mr. Robert Mbonu has not
taken delivery of the jewelleries and couldn’t provide a date when the
jewelleries he paid for would be delivered.
“That Mr. Robert Mbonu through Melrose
General Services Company Limited Access Bank account transferred the sum of
N200,000,000 to Wasp Networks Limited’s Stanbic IBTC Bank on January 11, 2017
for a purported investment in the company.
“That Wasp Networks Limited
transferred the sum of N170,000,000 on January 16, 2017 to Xtract Energy
Services Ltd.’s FCMB account.
“Investigations further revealed
that prior to this transaction in xxii above, Xtract Energy Services Ltd.
routinely made deposits into Dr. Bukola Saraki Access Bank United States dollar
domiciliary account number: 0059429296 as follows: September 17, 2013, the sum
of $80, 235.00, September 12, 2014, the sum of $96,930.00, November 18, 2014,
the sum of $99,918.50 and December 19, 2014, the sum of $49,965, respectively.
“That Bosun Ottun further stated
deposits into Dr. Bukola Saraki Access Bank United States Domiciliary Account
Number: 0059429296 as follows: September 17, 2013, the sum of $80, 235.00,
September 12, 2014, the sum of $96,930.00, November 18, 2014, the sum of
$99,918.50 and December 19, 2014, the sum of $49,965 were brought to his
company by Mr. Tunde Morakinyo who claimed that the funds were payments into
Dr. Bukola Saraki’s card account.
“That as the above mentioned
lodgments in xxiv are made from Xtract Energy Services into Dr. Bukola Saraki’s
Access Bank United States dollar domiciliary account number: 0059429296, the
proceeds were subsequently transferred to Dr. Bukola Saraki’s black card
account number: 0058931185 for his bill settlement.
“A prima facie case of conspiracy
to retain the proceeds of unlawful activities and money laundering contrary to
Sections 15(3) and 18(9) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004 can be
established against the aforementioned suspects.
“Additionally, investigation into
their personal accounts is ongoing.”
It is Mere Mudslinging Campaign,
Says Saraki’s Aide
“Our attention has been drawn to
the circulation of a report I the media said to have been leaked by the
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim
Magu to some journalists where he made several allegations against Senate
President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as it concerns the payment of the Paris
Club Fund refund to the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).
“Let us first state that these
allegations are not new. The EFCC had from the onset of its investigation into
the Paris Club refund made attempts to drag in the name of Dr. Saraki and we
have promptly denied any such involvement of the Senate President. In fact, the
EFCC itself came out to deny the report as it then said it had nothing to
indict the Senate President. The anti-graft agency said the investigation was
still on-going then. Yet, as at that
time it had all these information it is now dishing out.
“It is obvious that at this point
when Mr. Magu believes the Senate President should be blamed for his failure to
secure confirmation as Chairman of EFCC by the Senate, he would want to fight
back by cooking up reports and masterminding its leakage. We maintain our stand that Dr. Saraki has no
direct or indirect link to the distribution of the NGF money. No money from the
Paris Club refund was paid to Dr. Saraki.
“In addressing the specifics of the
allegation in the reports as we gathered from the press, EFCC believe that
since the Senate President has worked in the same organisation with Mr. Robert
Mbonu before, whatever transaction he is involved in should be linked to the
Senate President in this era of mud-slinging and much-raking. We would like to
say that Mr. Mbonu is not representing Mr. Saraki in any transaction he does
with the NGF and no money from his company, Melrose, in his dealing with
Nigeria Governors Forum came to Dr. Saraki either directly or indirectly. And
if the EFCC has any information to the contrary, we challenge them to make it
public.
“We state categorically that no
aide of the Senate President acted on Saraki’s behalf in whatever they do with
Mr. Mbonu.
“Again, If Melrose paid any money
to a jeweller or any shop, that has
nothing to do with the Senate President. We believe Melrose must have the
necessary documentation in support of their transaction and we are sure the
EFCC is aware of all these.
“In the same vein, if Melrose chose
to invest in another company, that decision has nothing to do with the Senate
President and the act of drawing a link between Mbonu and Saraki can at best be
only pure mischief.
“At this point, it should be noted
that Xtract Energy Services Limited is a well known foreign exchange dealer
with almost 15 years of existence in the market and the company is widely known
to do business with many organisations in the country. The last time the Senate President patronised
the company was on December 19, 2014 and we challenge Mr. Magu and the EFCC to
prove that the Senate President transacted any form of business with the
foreign exchange dealer in the period of the payment of the Paris Club refund.
“We call on members of the public
to view this concocted and leaked report as Mr. Magu’s form of fighting back.
The report has no truth in it. It should be noted that the Senate President was
not behind Magu’s failure to get confirmation from the Senate. That was
democracy in action. Dr. Saraki is merely a presiding officer and first among
equals. Dr. Saraki did not in any way interfere with the confirmation process.”
Culled from Premium Times
