As the ongoing probe of $2.1billion arms deals continues, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday gave “ThisDay” publisher Prince Nduka Obaigbena a two-week ultimatum to refund N670million allegedly collected for unexecuted contracts.
A source at the commission informed that some military personnel reported for interrogation yesterday, without elaborating. But still in custody is Obaigbena who had reported to the commission early on Tuesday.
Obaigbena was invited for interrogation in December 2015, but reports claimed he was outside the country. He, however, wrote a letter to the EFCC, admitting he collected N670 million from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The money, according to him, was a compensation for the bombing of his offices in Abuja and Kaduna by Boko Haram insurgents.
"The administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan paid the said sums to “ThisDay” and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) as compensation for the bombing of the newspaper house by Boko Haram and the seizure of copies of many newspapers by the military."
He also claimed 12 members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) collected part of the money as compensation for the loss incurred as a result of the clampdown on their materials and newspapers by solders during the period.
Despite denying collecting any compensation by some of the newspaper houses, and return of the monies by those who admitted being compensated, the EFCC has been inviting all the newspaper houses mentioned by Obaigbena to answer questions. The investigation started last week and is on-going.
While other invited newspapers have been represented by their managing directors, Obaigbena has been asked to report in person which he eventually did on Tuesday. The EFCC source explained that Obaigbena is needed in person because he was the one who collected money for his organisation and on behalf of some of the other NPAN members.
