… Insists cash found on him were gifts
The embattled former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu has formally moved for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, of an Abuja Federal High Court.
The former GMD who is still being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the recovery of a total of $9.77million and £74,000 at his Kaduna home, is also demanding for the sum of N1billion from the Federal Government as damages.
The application filed against the EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) could not however, go through when it was called up before the court, owing to the fact that the AGF and the applicant (Yakubu) sought for more time to regularizes its papers.
Apart from the N1billion damages being sought for by Yakubu, he is also seeking for the leave of the court to allow him go complete his medical procedure, which he was undergoing at an hospital in the United Kingdom, before his invitation by the EFCC, as well as apologies to be tendered in two national dailies.
In the counter affidavit filed in support of the application by a lawyer in the chambers of Ahmed Raji SAN, it argued that Yakubu was “not being investigated for money laundering and other sundry offenses, he is only being investigated in respect of monies found at a residence belonging to him in Kaduna.
“The applicant states that the monies in respect of which the applicant is being held by the respondents are gifts and goodwill by well wishers and friends, given to him during celebrations and ceremonies, and not proceeds of crime”.
In the counter affidavit filed by the EFCC, it affirmed that the total sum of $9,772, 800 and £74,000 recovered from the safe in his residence, was not declared in his July 2015 assets declaration form, whereas, the said gifts were given to him within 2010 – 2014.
“Section 12 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Act prohibits a public officer from receiving gifts by virtue of his being a public officer”.
The matter was however adjourned to March 9, 2017 for hearing.
A very reliable source disclosed to BusinessDay, that the EFCC would in a couple of days arraign the former NNPC boss before a Federal High Court in Abuja, even though the offence was said to have been committed in Kaduna.
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