The federal government on Friday released a list of some people who it claimed allegedly laundered money in the previous administration.
Minister of Information, Lai Mohammad, released the list during a press conference in Lagos on Friday, a statement by his assistant, Segun Adeyemi reads.
The minister noted that PDP’s challenge prompted FG to take the move adding that the names in the list include PDP chieftains who are currently being tried for corruption and financial crimes.
“The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology. Let’s just give them a teaser with this list”, Alhaji Mohammed said.
The minister also said the list is “just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this.
We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available”.
He also noted that some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain.
Those named on the list include:
1. PDP Chairman, UCHE SECONDUS
– On the 19th of Feb 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of then NSA.
2. Then PDP FInancial Secretary
– On the 24th of Oct 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of then NSA.
3. Then National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh
– On trial for collecting N1.4b from the office of then NSA.
4. Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications
– On trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA.
5. Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei
– On trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies.
6 Former President Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaola
– On Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer
for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA.
Alhaji Mohammed further stressed that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP,
and that the starting point in tendering an apology is for them to return the loot.
“It’s like a robber admitting to stealing your car and apologizing, but then saying he will keep the car anyway. It doesn’t work that way. The PDP is a hypocrite. And that reminds me of what English writer
William Hazlitt said: ”The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy” he said.
“We will not stop talking about the massive looting by the PDP. They brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. We are now looking around for loans to build infrastructure, and they ask us not to talk about it. We will talk about it” he added.
