EFCC uncovers fresh N2bn in ex-Niger gov aspirant’s account

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a fresh N2 billion in the account of a former commissioner (name withheld), bringing to a total of N6 billion traced to the politician and two companies linked to him.

With the new discovery, a reliable source in the anti-corruption commission informed Saturday Tribune yesterday that the commission might declare him wanted.

The fresh N2 billion, according to the source, was traced by EFCC to the man’s account.

The anti-graft agency had on Tuesday, April 11, traced N4billion to two accounts in GTBank belonging to two companies, Katah Property and Investment Limited and Sadiq Air Travel Agency, both linked to Liman. Each of the accounts had N2billion fixed in deposit account domiciled with the bank.

While the amount, according to the source,who does not want to be named, was suspected to be proceeds of crimes, the discovery was a result of tip-off by a whistle blower.

The source further informed Saturday Tribune that since the discovery, the former commissioner, who was a governorship aspirant in the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election had been elusive.

“He is on the run and all efforts to track him down have been futile. The next option left for the Commission is to declare him wanted,” a source said.

The source further disclosed that ongoing investigations by the commission pointed to the fact that the funds were siphoned from the local government joint account of Niger State, adding that EFCC wanted Liman desperately with a view to confronting him with the available evidence.

It was learnt that the former commissioner rakes in a monthly interest of over N33million on the fixed deposits.

While announcing the discovery of the first N4billion, EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, had stated in a press statement that suspected owner of the account and the account officer were currently on the run.

Meanwhile, a  state  high court sitting in Minna will on Tuesday hear the case of alleged fraud and abuse office brought before it by the EFCC against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The former governor was invited by the anti-graft agency for alleged fraud to the tune of N5 billion perpetrated under his administration last week.

EFCC formally filed the case against Aliyu and his former Chief of Staff, Mr.  Umar Nasko, on Thursday,  Saturday Tribune gathered on Friday.

The commission’s operatives and counsel were said to have arrived the high court premises at about 2:05pm in two buses accompanied by a van carrying mobile policemen.

The EFCC delegation then went into the chamber of the state Chief Judge, Justice Maria Sanda Dzukogi’s where they filed the case.

Saturday Tribune gathered  that the case was thereafter assigned to Justice Mohammed Aliyu Maiyaki of High Court II the same day.

Justice Maiyaki was the chairman of the judicial panel of inquiry set up by the embattled former governor to probe the administration of late Engnr. Abdullahi  Abdukadir Kure.

Further checks revealed  that already counsels to the embattled flamboyant former  governor have already filed a motion to secure his bail before the arraignment on Tuesday.

Saturday Tribune also  gathered that Chief Ayodele Oladeji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)  is expected to lead the team of lawyers from the Summit Chambers in Minna  in defence of the former governor and Talban Minna.