EFCC To Quiz PDP Boss, Senators, Others On Monday

Written by Lanre Adewole, Abuja

Barring last minute change, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly set to quiz the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed, a senator, two former ministers of communications and one other on Monday, over the N440 million Siemens bribery scandal.

Mohammed, also a former minister of communications, was summoned along with others by the commission for allegedly sharing in the 17.5 million euro {about N440 million} given as bribe by the German engineering and electronic giant, to secure contracts in Nigeria.

The two other former ministers are Chief Cornelius Adebayo and General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, while another former minister mentioned in the alleged scam, Haruna Elewi, is now dead.

Also summoned was Dr. Osakwe Oyegun, with Senator Jubril Aminu from Adamawa State also said to have been put on the list of those to be quizzed over the alleged bribery scandal.

Commission’s chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, confirmed the invitation of the former ministers. Sources in the commission said their appearance at the commission had been fixed for Monday.

The immediate past national chairman of the ruling party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, resigned penultimate Thursday over an allegation of N238 million scam brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission {ICPC}, when he was minister of special duties in 2001.

He handed over to Mohammed, who is the party’s deputy national chairman. He is expected to take charge of the party in substantive capacity if the post was eventually zoned to the North, in the event that President Goodluck Jonathan would be contesting for president next year.

The commission had also set up a six-man panel to prepare the case against those indicted over the alleged Siemens bribery scandal.

Waziri put the team in place last week, with a three-week ultimatum to submit its report. About 17.5 million Euros {about N440 million} was said to have been shared as bribe by the firm which has seen two of its former executives convicted and the company fined 38 million Euros {about 51.4 million dollars} by a German court.

Following the conviction of the two Siemens executives, the Federal Government had written the German authorities for court proceedings in the trial.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), confirmed to Saturday Tribune that he authorised the EFCC to write the letter using the instrumentality of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).

Speaking through his Special Assistant (Media), Chuks Akuna, the minister said: “I gave them (EFCC) the authority to write the letter,” when our correspondent contacted him.

Waziri was said to have earlier hinted of the letter while featuring on a TV programme.

Source: http://www.tribune.com.ng