FRESH: EFCC quizzes Jonathan’s ex-chief of staff, ex-BPE DG over N27bn scam

Posted on by

Jones Arogbofa, a retired brigadier and former chief of staff to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has been detained and quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), TheCable understands.

 

Also detained and quizzed are Benjamin Dikki, former director-general of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), and Godknows Igali, former permanent secretary in the ministry of power.

 

They were detained on Friday, September 2, by the anti-graft agency. They are being investigated over the payment of “phantom” insurance premiums totalling N27 billion for cover allegedly not provided to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

 

Arogbofa was also questioned over an Abuja mansion he allegedly bought for N150 million. His role in the premium payment could not be ascertained.

 

Investigations in June 2015 had uncovered retrospective payments of the insurance premiums in suspicious circumstances.

 

In insurance parlance of “no premium, no cover”, there can be no insurance cover if premium is not paid ab initio.

 

Sources at the ministry of  power said that the N27 billion payments were made for covers not provided but memos were initiated, backdated and secretly executed.

 

The premiums were ostensibly made to insurance firms thought to be fronting for powerful figures in the ministry and at BPE.

 

Eventually, the money was shared among senior government officials, with some getting as much as N1 billion in the dying days of the last administration, insiders informed.

 

A director at the ministry had said then: “The secrecy that accompanied the development shows that the individuals involved know that when it comes to the open, it will be greeted with outrage. I doubt if the regulators in the power and insurance industries, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), diligently looked into these transactions which have ethical and criminal dimensions.”

 

In December 2015, a former BPE director wrote to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo alleging fraudulent practices at the agency.

 

In a letter dated November 2, 2015, Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, who retired in June 2015, alleged N27bn premium payments for a “non-existent insurance cover”. Kashim also alleged that a phantom N1.5bn contract was awarded to a “prominent PDP lawyer” by Dikki to wind up PHCN even when there was no work for the lawyer to do.

 

It was learnt that the detained trio have been released pending further investigations. No EFCC official was willing to comment on the development.

 

Source: The Cable

268 thoughts on “FRESH: EFCC quizzes Jonathan’s ex-chief of staff, ex-BPE DG over N27bn scam”

  25. Care provides buy gabapentin or buy gabapentin
    http://soccertraining.net/dap/product-error.php?msg=Possibly+the+best+areas+to+get+household+leather+couches+from+is+from+this+website.+There+products+range+between+leather+couches,+chesterfield+sofas+and+fabric+recliners+to+antique+sofas+and+in+addition+they+have+good+reveiws+to+indicate+for+their+own+reasons.&request=https://gabapentin1st.pro Care provides
    involves multisystem gabapentin best price and licensed gabapentin licensed gabapentin

  266. I’ve been using delta 9 drops for drinks regular in regard to all about a month now, and I’m truly impressed before the positive effects. They’ve helped me perceive calmer, more balanced, and less restless in every nook the day. My forty winks is deeper, I wake up refreshed, and even my nave has improved. The attribute is outstanding, and I appreciate the natural ingredients. I’ll categorically preserve buying and recommending them to person I recall!

  267. I started taking thc gummies a teeny-weeny while ago just to discover what the hype was wide, and these days I indeed look brash to them once bed. They don’t bang me escape or anything, but they gain it so much easier to cold and disappointing collapse asleep naturally. I’ve been waking up feeling pathway more rested and not sluggish at all. Even-handedly, description of impose upon I’d tried them sooner.

  268. I tried a not many products from Tillmans Tranquils – relaxation gummies and really liked the entire experience. The gummies be struck by a cleansed know, undisturbed configuration, and dependable quality. The flavors feel reasonable, and the portioned servings up it comfortable to prefer what works in behalf of you. Their packaging looks premium and the total feels thoughtfully made. A downright mark with products that are enjoyable and reliable.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *