EFCC seizes Nenadi Usman’s houses

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized two houses belonging to Senator Nenadi Usman who was the Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation.

It was learnt that the two houses seized were located in Abuja.

The EFCC had arrested Usman last week after it was established that N2.5bn was paid into her company account, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited, and N140m cash was allegedly paid into her Zenith Bank Account with number, 1000158311, domiciled on 7, Kachia Road, Kaduna.

The said transfer, which emanated from the Central Bank of Nigeria, took place in January 2015, during the build up to the presidential election.

It had reported that Usman had returned N23m to the Federal Government and also promised to return more money.

It was learnt that the suspect revealed that she had two houses in Abuja and the EFCC swiftly sealed off the buildings.

A source at the anti-graft agency said, “She has been cooperating with us as she has returned N23m and we have also seized two houses belonging to her in Abuja.”

The source revealed that Usman complained of health challenges and she might be released on an administrative bail soon.

“Since she has been cooperating with us and has also returned some money, she will be granted an administrative bail. She seems to have some health challenges. Also, releasing her will give her the ability to return more funds,” the source added.

It had also been reported in March that Usman had on the instruction of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, transferred different sums of money to several individuals and interest groups during the build up to the last elections.

Usman allegedly transferred monies to several persons through the bank account of a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.

Through the said account, the Director of Publicity of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, received N840m. According to the documents sighted by our correspondent, the money was deposited into Fani-Kayode’s Zenith bank account, Maitama Branch with number 1004735721 on February 19, 2015.

EFCC sources said a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, received N100m through a company, Marreco Limited, where he is chairman. The fund was credited into the company’s United Bank for Africa Plc account number 1000627022.

About N320m was also paid into the bank account of the Goodluck Support Group, an association of over 100 pro-Jonathan groups headed by Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali.