PDP Factional Chairman, Sheriff Held At EFCC For 7 Hours

The embattled factional Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was yesterday grilled at Maiduguri office of the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the N23 billion said to have been distributed to states, ostensibly to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party during the 2015 presidential election. 

Sheriff, who was interrogated at the Maiduguri office of the anti-graft agency, yesterday, was released on administrative bail reports say

News Punch had yesterday published a report stating that the ant-graft agency had invited the former Borno governor for questioning, an invitation which he has honoured.

Before Sheriff's, the Commission has so far quizzed the following ex-PDP governors: Chief Achike Udenwa (Imo State), Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River State), as well as Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara State) and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.

Apart from the former state chief executives, operatives had interrogated a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad (Jigawa State), Ntufam John Okon (Cross River State PDP Chairman), and retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Akwa Ibom).

Also quizzed were a former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Zamfara), an ex-Minister of Mines and Steel, Arch. Musa Muhammad Sada (Katsina), as well as a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger).

Ex-Gov. Chime In EFCC Net, Quizzed Over N450m Share Of Diezani's $115m Bribe For Election Result

The anti-graft agency has beamed its searchlight on ex-governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime over the ongoing investigation of the $115 million campaign funds shared by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke .

News Punch gathered from sources at the EFCC, that Chime, who reported at the Enugu zonal office of the antigraft agency, was asked to explain his alleged role in the disbursement of N450 million said to have been sent to the state. 

One of the sources, sources, who spoke in confidence, said the former governor, in his statement, denied being “personally” involved in the disbursement of the said cash.

“Chime reported at the Enugu zonal office of the Commission in response to invitation to explain his role in the (alleged) disbursement of Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira allegedly received for Enugu State’s PDP campaign organisation’s prosecution of the 2015 General election.

“The former governor, in his statement, denied any personal involvement with the disbursement of the said amount as was claimed by Mrs. Rita Chinelo Mba , secretary to the campaign office and his former Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Government affairs,” the source said.

He said the former governor further explained that the said cash was allegedly brought by two of his former commissioners. Chime was released on administrative bail, and will return on Monday, June 13, for further interrogation, 

The EFCC also quizzed former Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Abdu Bulama, as well as an ex-minister of State for Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakil, in continuation of its ongoing investigation into the $115 million alleged campaign funds.