$3m scandal: Confusion over whereabouts of $620,000

Posted by admin House, Latest Politics, Legislature Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Confusion reigned in Abuja on Tuesday as to the whereabouts of the $620,000 said to have been collected from oil magnate. Mr Femi Otedola by the embattled chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy scheme, Honourable Farouk Lawan.

There were indications that the bribe- marked dollar notes- had been spent and could not be traced.

A source close to the investigation said that some influential persons were persuading the police to accept any other dollar notes which is equivalent to the said $620,000.

It was also gathered that influential House of Representatives members were in crucial meetings on Tuesday with the aim of finding an acceptable political solution out of the crisis.

Notwithstanding the claim by the House of Representatives at the emergency session on Friday, it was gathered that the issue of the bribe was not just between Lawan, his committee secretary, Boniface Emenalo and Mr Femi Otedola alone as some other members of the House might have partaken in the handling of the money.

It was learnt that a group of lawmakers was brainstorming on the way out of the crisis on Tuesday, with some of them insisting on political solution to the crisis.

Sources also said that some governors are being contacted to get involved in the political solution to end the bribe saga.

Sources said that with the insistence of the police on retrieving the actual notes, it was becoming increasingly difficult that the probe might be extended to other members.

It was also gathered that the police have been unable to locate the marked notes paid to Lawan by Otedola.

A source said that a search of the banks did not yield result on Tuesday.

“It appears the notes have found their ways out of the country as the banks have reported not seeing such notes, so it means that some other persons apparently partook in sharing it or the notes were simply siphoned out of the country. Those affected might have to confess if the police flatly reject the offer of fresh notes,” a source said.wp_posts