Osinbajo names three individuals including Diezani guilty of corruption during Jonathan era

PRESIDENCY officials have maintained their stance that the immediate-past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was immersed in corruption releasing details of three persons who stole $3bn of public funds during its tenure.

Over the last few weeks, vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that this government inherited a looted treasury as a result of the corruption of the previous administration. Members of President Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) subsequently challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to provide evidence of this corruption.

In response, Professor Osinbajo's spokesman Laolu Akande, said: “As the vice president said, $3bn was stolen in the so-called NNPC Strategic Alliance Contracts.  The three persons involved are Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko and the former petroleum resources minister, Diezani Alison- Maduekwe.

“The companies of both Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko lifted Nigerian crude oil and kept the proceeds and the total sums converted is in excess of $3bn, including royalties, taxes and fees unpaid for the asset from which the crude was taken. The case is the subject of a trial in Nigeria and criminal investigations in the US and UK and the assets of all the three individuals have been forfeited in Nigeria, the US, and the UK.”

Mr Akande also cited the alleged diversion and theft of sums in excess of $2.5bn meant for the purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram. He said the first phase of the investigations revealed several sordid details and many of the assets of the culprits have been seized from them and they are now facing trial.

According to Mr Akande,  the then Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Lamido Sanusi, was also sacked for speaking up about the over $20bn missing from oil proceeds. Last week, Dr Jonathan’s ex-aide, Reno Omokri, had claimed that those named as being guilty of corruption were not part of the then government.