The former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, has detained by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and accused of laundering N3.6 billion realised from sale of the state’s 16 of the 26 per cent stake in North-South Power Ltd and N2 billion ecological fund got from the Presidency in 2015.
The former governor who honored an invitation by the
agency, arrived at its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday 10am, has been
answering questions on issues relating to abuse of office and money laundering.
If indicted, he is likely to be arraigned. Aliyu is alleged to have diverted
the N2 billion Ecological Funds for political purposes. He is also alleged to
have fraudulently sold the state’s stake in North South Power, the holding
company for Kainji Dam. According to the commission, he sold 16 out of the
state’s 26 percent shares in the company for N3.6billion.
It was reported that N1.09 billion was paid to Government House
Minna, and used for the 2015 elections, where Aliyu’s protégé, Nasko ran
unsuccessfully as governor. It was also revealed that three companies benefitted
from the ecological fund through contract awards. The firms are: I D Sabon, M J
Eco and Secta Plus. I D Sabin, a company suspected to be owned by the
former Secretary to the Government, Saidu Nddako Idris, allegedly got a
contract for which it was paid N847 million. Of this sum N800 million was allegedly
given to the former Chief of Staff to Governor Aliyu, Umar Nasko, who in turn,
handed the money to the former governor. Also, M J Eco, owned by one
Nuhsinuazali Jibril, a friend to Ibrihim Nasko, younger brother to
Umar Nasko, got N487 million for a contract which was not executed. The money
reprtedly was paid to various Bureaux de Change, converted into Dollars
and handed to Nasko who also delivered the money to the former governor for
undisclosed purpose. According to the EFCC, only Secta Plus however executed
the contract it received from the Niger State Government. “.
