Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission has seized 18 houses in an estate allegedly
belonging to Alhaji Aliyu Usman, an associate of the embattled former
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Alhaji Aliyu Usman,
as well as two companies linked to him- Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited
and Nordeen Global Resources – were among 300 others listed as persons
who allegedly received contracts from the Office of the National
Security Adviser.
The EFCC said Musa allegedly diverted N897m he received from the ONSA fund and allegedly used it to construct the estate.
The inscription, ‘EFCC, Keep Off!’ was seen on the 18 terrace houses in the estate which is located at Mbora District, Abuja.
Usman also allegedly used part of the money to buy a three bed-roomed flat at OAU Quarters Wuse 2 Abuja
The
EFCC said, “The EFCC is investigating the involvement of Aliyu Usman,
who is linked with Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited and Nordeen Global
Resources for their involvement in the monumental fraud that allegedly
took place in the Office of the National Security Adviser during the
regime of the embattled Col. Sambo Dasuki.
“The two companies
allegedly received about N897m from the arms deal funds from ONSA and
diverted part of the money in the construction of an estate with 18 unit
blocks of flats at Mbora District Abuja and another for the purchase of
a three bed-roomed flat at OAU Quarters Wise II Abuja.”
A
committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the NSA from 2011 to 2015
had last year indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens
including serving and retired officers of the armed forces.
Mallam
Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, had said in
March last year that over N7bn had been recovered so far from the
indicted companies and individuals.
Another N41bn is to be
refunded by the indicted companies while further investigation by the
EFCC had been ordered to determine whether another N75bn should be
recovered from some of the companies for unexecuted or partially
executed contracts.
The statement said the committee further
established that one of the indicted companies, Societe D’Equipment
International, was overpaid to the tune of €7.9m and $7.09m.
The
committee discovered that there was a total disregard of key provisions
of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts by ONSA.
“Several
contractors were apparently overpaid, while others were given full
upfront payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in
force,” Garba had said.
Over 30 persons and companies are under
prosecution by the EFCC for their alleged role in the scam while a few
others have since fled the country.
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