Arms deal: Former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Tony Anenih writes EFCC over N260 million paid to his account

Tony Anenih

Tony Anenih, former People Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman has stated how he shared N260 million paid to his account from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Tony Anenih said in a letter written to the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) that he disbursed the money as instructed and didn't benefit from it.

The Nation gathered that N63 million was given to a group coordinated by Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, a former special assistant to former President Shehu Shagari (National Assembly Liaison) for the 2015 presidential election. The EFCC said Yakassai may be summoned for questioning over the "curious " payment, as it believes the money might come from $2.1 arms funds allegedly misappropriated.

According to a highly-placed source in EFCC, “ Chief Tony Anenih has written the EFCC on how he disbursed N260million from ONSA to various groups including a team being coordinated by Tanko Yakassai.

“Anenih specifically indicated in the letter that N63million was given to Yakassai’s group. He mentioned a few others whose identities we will not disclose until our investigation has reached an appreciable stage.

“We will unveil the names of all the beneficiaries of the N260million soon. But we are at a level that we need to invite Yakassai to shed more light on why his group was allocated N63million arms funds.”

The source added that the commission will also invite Anenih to make a statement on oath and for interrogation. The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki has been in detention over the $2.1bn arms deal scam.

One of the charges against Dasuki and a former director of finance and administration in the ONSA, Shaibu Salisu, was the transfer of N260 million to Anenih.

Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the PDP is also being investigated for allegedly collecting N400 million from the ONSA. He was detained yesterday by the EFCC detectives for nine hours over alleged N1.4billion traced to a company in which he has a stake.

- Rexinews

- The Nation

- Naij.com