A purchase request initiated, approved and swiftly funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 2011 has become a subject of investigation by the security agencies, TheCable understands.
The memo was initiated on October 17, 2011 by Gordon Obua (pictured), the former chief security officer (CSO) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, requesting the president to give approval for the purchase of 40-foot three mobile stages valued at $6.9m.
Same day, Jonathan minuted on the memo to Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, who also got another memo on October 18, 2011 requesting “action”.
In November, an NNPC payment voucher with number 3840336 showed that the money was released without recourse to any known public procurement laws.
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NNPC directed that the money should be taken from one of its accounts at Citibank, New York, with sort code CITIUS33 and routing number 021000089.
The fund was first routed from the US bank to an NNPC account in Zenith Bank account number 5000026593, Maitama branch in Abuja.
From there, it was sent to a private account at Sterling Bank with the sum of $6.9 million credited to J. Marine Logistics Limited, Abuja.
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Investigators said the company was registered and owned by Obua, and there is no evidence that any mobile stage was bought or delivered at all.
A security source said: “In his memo to the president, Obua said ‘This is regarding my earlier discussion with Your Excellency on the security implication of your public appearances and your subsequent directive on the need to procure a secured presidential platform’.
“President Jonathan approved the request to buy the three stages to Alison-Madueke. In his minute, the president wrote: ‘We have discussed this, please deal’.
“The senior special assistant to the president on administrative matters, Matt Aikhionbere, did another letter on the strength of the president’s approval requesting the Alison-Madueke to take action on the request to purchase the stages for $6.9 million.”
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This deal was typical of several transactions in which secret NNPC accounts were used to fund many questionable projects, the source said.
“It was a very common occurrence from our investigations so far,” he said.
“Apart from the fact that the cost for the mobile stages was insanely inflated, according to those who know about mobile stages, there is even no evidence that any stage was bought at all.
“The process of procurement was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations, nor were the offices of the auditor-general and the accountant-general in the know.”
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The minister of finance and the director-general of the budget office were also unaware of the deal, one of the investigators said.
Meanwhile, Obua, who was recently interrogated by his employers, the Department of State Services (DSS), has not been able to answer questions on the deal, the source added.
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Initiating the memo without the knowledge of DSS violated service rules, one of the investigators said.
“It is not the duty or responsibility of the CSO to make the determination on that purchase. He was meant to have informed the service, which will then review the situation and act accordingly,” he said.
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Accusations of running secret accounts have been levelled against the NNPC for several years.
Recently, the National Economic Council said whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned about N8.1 trillion in the last two years, it only remitted N4.3 trillion into the federation account during that period, keeping the balance in its several secret accounts around the world.
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19 comments
Chai! Chai!! Chai!!! O such deceptive movement shouldn’t left goes unpunished. Whoever is alleged to have been in d circle should be apprehended in due course. Baba Buhari would surely dealt with them.
You are bless for noticing.
That’s why I can’t comprehend the ideal of owing civil servants salaries at a time when the nation enjoyed oil boom. This kind of unreasonable release of what should have gone to pay labourers was syphoned into greedy pockets. Let’s just get the money back, forget about imprisoning them.
So we have this money in this country and someone is talking about austerity measures where as somebody is busy in a Coney way packing the money.there is God ooooo
I am in total support of President Buhari’s anti corruption war. Infact that was what made me to fall in love with him. However, there seems to be a well calculated attempt to rubbish ex-President Jonathan Goodluck administration tennure and lebel it as being most corrupt. With all sincerity, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan could not have been a saint but his tennure couldn’t have been as corrupt as the tennure of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Sanni Abacha or even that of Rtd. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. It may not be agreed but I can see Northern Agenda beiing seriously pursed. Southerners are too corrupt in administration, while the Norths are Saints. Of all the appointments so far by the present administration, how many are from the South. Of course, they are all thieves and very corrupt.
We are all watching.
Bros. This is not the point. Stick to issues.
I don’t know about northern focus, but I also see there being an inordinate emphasis on the past administration. Probably simply because it is the most recent one in our memory… people tend to have short memories.
You start your comment on the issue and them derail. This.is how GEJ started talking and then did something else in office. Stick to the issues and forget northern or southern agenda. This is a Nigerian affair. We need to forget about those things that divide us and talk about one Nigeria.
Honesty as you nikname yourself, you are doing the worst thing to yourself by deceiving yourself.
Politics is helping those that helped us. You are unwise to claim that Buhari’s appointment is for the Northerners alone, please let who the cap fit wear it. If it is the northerners that will take us out of this mess, let it be afterall Jesus selected his 12 Disciples from the 12 tribes of Isreal. God said David is my friend and a man after my hearth. You said you fall in Love but you see faults. please go and rethink and post valuable information here. I am from Edo state but if the best leaders can come from only 1 state and Nigerian are freed from bondage, that the will of God.
If Jonathan must account for this ‘scam’. the apc government should tell nigerians the source of fund used for the renovation of aso villa before it became ‘decent’ enough for a ‘new’ president to occupy. which subhead of the untouched 2015 budget was used? how much was the project cost? who were the contractors? what was the avoidable cost of his temporary abode?- remeber when one finger points to your four are pointing at yourself
Many times those who look innocent are merely hiding their guilt, while those who are seen as guilty are innocent and poor at showing it. I suspect there are many members of Jonathan’s staff who are innocent but unlucky enough to be caught in the net cast by this corruption probe. At the same time those who are pointing the finger (as you say) may very well be doing it to avoid suspicion.
Every government office has always bin renovated b4 a new one enters dats jst a necessary evil dat we must get used to. dats nt even d issue
Please check, Jonathan gave most of this appointment to the south. This is not the matter, we need development and good management.
It is evil to preach division. President Buhari go on, you are working. I am from southeast
Really??? He did??? How many SE Ministers were in Jonathan’s cabinet. Let us work it out. Again, Buhari is a saint, why are we comparing him to Jonathan, the devil incarnate from pit of hell? Should PMB not be above board. Finally whether SE is amongst Buahari’s Kitchen Cabinet or not does not matter after all all the past Ibos in government did not achieve a lot for the tribe. Again, why would I have amongst my team people I do not trust? It is PMB’s prerogative. Where are all those propaganda about his Driver being Ibo, Cook Ibo, Gardner Ibo, Secretary Ibo. Buhari is just a mere mortal.
Let’s just believe this is not one of their political drama with endless seasons. Hoping and praying for GMD for Spirit of God in designing to give Nigeria and Nigerian justice on all administration’s before him without fear or, and favour.
Your comment..men even if ARE not corrupt but u allow those under u to do whatever they want with public fund u will be adjudge corrupt.
First of the south east didnt vote for PMB bt now they are crying for ministeral post. 2. buhari is trying to probe and they say he’s bias for G’s sake let us have some sanity for once. somebody stole money, someone has to pay
Williams, South East does not need Ministerial Posts to flourish in Nigeria and abroad. SE has and will always pull through any obstacle to actualize her God-given potential.What people are saying is simple. Extend your probe to previous administrations even before Jonathan. In so doing, you will be seen to be fair. Period!
Thanks William