Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has told New York Times
that associates of an ex-minister under former President Goodluck
Jonathan had approached him to return the sum of $250 million to the
Federal Government.
The money is about N50bn using an average exchange rate of N200 to a dollar.
The governor, who did not mention the names of the associates or the
name of the ex-minister, said he was not in any position to handle such
matters but would pass across the message to the appropriate
authorities.
In the report published on Friday, the governor said, “When you say
you want to refund, it means you are admitting that you took what was
not yours. ‘I said, ‘I am a governor, I am not involved in this. I will
pass on your message.’’’
The former minister of the Federal Capital Territory had before the
inauguration of the new administration said President Muhammadu Buhari’ s
government would ask corrupt politicians to return every kobo stolen
by them.
El-Rufai had told members of the National Union of Textile Garments
and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, who visited him in Kaduna that such
politicians must be ready to return all stolen funds after May 29.
He, however, said those who were not corrupt had no cause to fear.
El-Rufai said, “We will politely ask those who stole government money
to return the funds. The All Progressives Congress government is made
up of people who are ready to work for the masses and the betterment of
the country.’’
Also, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, had in July told State
House Correspondents shortly after meeting with President Buhari at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the President’s delegation during his
last trip to the US was told how a minister under ex-President Jonathan
stole $6billion.
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that apart from sending her aides to
el-Rufai, the female minister had also approached some members of the
Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption and some governors
close to President Muhammadu Buhari, offering to return part of the
loot.
Chairman of the committee, Prof. Itse Sagay, could not be reached on Saturday night as his phone was switched off.
A member of the committee however told our one of our correspondents
that even though the former minister did not approach him, he was aware
that she made such moves.
He said, “I have never met her and she has never sent anyone to me
but I know that she has tried to meet other members of the committee
offering to refund some money. I also learnt that she had tired to reach
President Buhari many times.”
Another reliable source privy to the activities of the committee, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday night that all the persons the ex-minister met or sent emissaries to refused to accept the money from her.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “She approached
the committee members but they refused to take the money from her. This
was shortly before she travelled to the United Kingdom. Even while in
Britain, she has not relented in trying to return some of the money she
was accused of stealing.”
SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered on Saturday that the
ex-minister had written petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission against some of her former allies.
According to a reliable source at the commission, the ex-minister
learnt that some of her former associates that she favoured with
mouth-watering deals in her ministry were behind her travails.
In retaliation, she reportedly sponsored petitions against her former
allies providing strong evidence against them to the anti-graft agency.
Following these petitions, one of her former associates, who is a
major player in the oil industry was invited for questioning two weeks
ago while another ally of hers is facing extradition from Switzerland.
Efforts to reach the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr.
Wilson Uwujaren, failed on Saturday as his phone was switched off.
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