CSNAC Petitions EFCC Over N67.2b Illegal Withdrawal UNDER Jonathan

The Civil Society Network against Corruption (CSNAC), has petitioned the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the movement of N67.2billion from the
Central Bank of Nigeria under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In a petition written by the coalition’s chairman,
Olanrewaju Suraju, and made available to
journalists, the group said it is demanding a swift and
thorough investigation into these allegations in order to
recover the nation’s dwindling resources at the hands
of unscrupulous elements and the deserved
punishments meted out where necessary.
“In its publication of the 19th day of September, 2015,
the Premium Times, an online newspaper reported that
the former President Goodluck Jonathan, authorized
the withdrawal of a whopping N67.2 billion in cash
from the Central Bank of Nigeria between November
2014 and February 2015 for what was called ‘special
services’ during the lead up to the 2015 general
elections. Insiders at CBN said the huge cash was
carted away in bullion vans.
“The report further states that one of the withdrawals
was made through a memo which originated from the
office of the former National Security Adviser Sambo
Dasuki, while the second was generated by the
National Petroleum Investment Management Services
(NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation in charge of the Federal
Government’s investment in the petroleum industry.”
Furthermore, the report states ‘the first memo dated
November 2014 contained a request for the withdrawal
of $47 million cash out of N10 billion earmarked for
release for an unbudgeted ‘special services’. In the
memo with reference number NSA/366/S and titled:
’Request for Funds for Special Services’, an official
from Mr Dasuki’s office had drawn the CBN’s
governor’s attention to a previous discussion and
requested the release of the said funds by the bank’.
“The balance from the N10 billion the memo directed
was to be paid out in Euro, while a certain Director of
Finance and Administration with the name S. A. Salisu,
was authorized to sign and receive the haul of US
Dollars and Euro in cash, on behalf of the NSA’s office.
"It remains unknown for what purpose the ‘special
services’ fund was utilized.”
While stating that the huge withdrawals violate the
Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 which was
signed by the ex-president, the group noted that the
transaction was a brazen disregard for the rule of law
and due process that should be condemned and
discouraged. “From the foregoing, this is another case
of high profile corruption and money laundering that
deserves a thorough investigation to identify the key
players and circumstances surrounding the movements
of such huge sums of money.
“One would wonder how a President who signed an
important act such as the Money Laundering Act into
law will now be responsible for flouting the same
enactment, whether personally or through his stooges,”
the petition said.
THE FULL PETITION CAN BE FOUND BELOW:
23rd September, 2015
The Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
No. 5, Fomella Street,
Off Adetokunboh Ademola Crescent,
Wuse II, Abuja.
Dear Sir,
REQUEST FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE MOVEMENT OF
N67.2 BILLION FROM THE CBN UNDER THE FORMER
PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION
FOR “SPECIAL SERVICES”
Civil Society Network against Corruption (CSNAC) is a
coalition of over hundred and fifty Anti-corruption
organizations whose primary aim is to constructively
combat corruption vigorously and to ensure the
effective monitoring of the various Anti-graft agencies
in the fight against corruption and contribute towards
the enthronement of transparency, accountability,
probity and total commitment in the fight to eradicate
corruption in Nigeria.
In its publication of the 19th day of September, 2015,
the PremiumTimes, an online newspaper reported that
the former President Goodluck Jonathan authorised
the withdrawal of a whopping N67.2billion in cash
money from the Central Bank of Nigeria between
November 2014 and February 2015 for what was called
‘special services’ in the build up to the 2015 general
elections. Insiders at CBN said the huge cash were
carted away in bullion vans.
The report further stated that one of the withdrawals
was made through a memo which originated from the
office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo
Dasuki, while the second was generated by the
National Petroleum Investment Management Services,
NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation in charge of the Federal
Government’s investment in the petroleum industry.
Furthermore, according to the report, ‘The first memo
dated November, 2014 contained a request for the
withdrawal of $47 million cash out of N10billion
earmarked for release for an unbudgeted ‘special
services’. In the memo with reference number
NSA/366/S and titled:’Request for Funds for Special
Services’, an official from Mr Dasuki’s office had
drawn the CBN’s governor’s attention to a previous
discussion and requested the release of the said funds
by the bank’. The balance from the N10billion, the
memo directed, was to be paid out in Euro, while a
certain Director of Finance and Administration with the
name S. A. Salisu, was authorised to sign and receive
the haul of US Dollars and Euro in cash, on behalf of
the NSA’s office. It remains unknown for what
purpose the ‘special services’ fund was utilized.
Also, the second memo raised by NAPIMS and dated
February 25, 2015 conveyed an instruction to the
Director Banking and System Payment Department of
the CBN to urgently pay in cash, the sum of
$289,202,382 (N52.7 billion) to the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA). ‘Upon receipt of this
mandate, please pay urgently the under listed
beneficiary the cash amount indicated. Please debit
CBN/JVCC Foreign Account No. 000000011658360
with the JP Morgan Chase New York and advise (sic)
as soon as the payment is made’. The payment
instruction in favour of the NIA was signed by one
Okonkwo Godwin, General Manager, Finance, NAPIMS,
with staff no 18526 on February 25, 2015. However,
sources claimed the funds were taken away at night
with bullion vans under heavy security cover. When
contacted, according to Premiumtimes, "the CBN’s
Director, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Muazu
declined comments as well as former spokespersons
of the former president. However, a senior official of
the bank on the condition of anonymity confirmed the
report. He said ‘My brother, the report is true. Every
detail is on point but since they claimed the
withdrawal was for security services, anything could
have been referred to as such. Nobody knows”
These huge withdrawals violate the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act 2011 which was signed by Mr.
Jonathan. According to Part 1, Section 1 of the law,
“No person or body corporate shall, except in a
transaction through a financial institution, make or
accept cash payment of a sum exceeding- (a)
N5,000,000.00 or its equivalent, in the case of an
individual; or (b) N10,000,000.00 or its equivalent in
the case of a body corporate.”
Section 16(d) of the Act says anyone who makes or
accepts cash payments exceeding the amount
authorised under this Act shall upon conviction be
liable to a forfeiture of 25% of the excess above the
limits placed in section 1 of the Act.
From the foregoing this is another case of high profile
corruption and money laundering that deserves a
thorough investigation to identify the key players and
circumstances surrounding the movements of such
huge sums of money. One would wonder how a
president who signed an important Act such as the
Money Laundering Act into law will now be responsible
for flouting the same enactment, whether personally or
through his stooges. This is a brazen disregard for the
rule of law and due process that should be prosecuted
appropriately to serve as deterrent.
In the light of this, CSNAC is therefore by this petition
demanding that a swift and thorough investigation be
launched into the allegations as contained above, in
order to recover the nation’s dwindling resources in
the hands of unscrupulous elements and the deserved
punishments meted out where necessary.
Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Olanrewaju Suraju
Chairman.

By :  Godwin Onoghokere