The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has started the probe of how the sum of $20 million was transferred into the accounts of shell companies and some former directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The money is believed by the EFCC to be a bribe.
According to THENEWSGURU, a source in the EFCC confirmed the on-going investigation into the bribery scandal. “So far, we are looking into the accounts of 10 suspects and about five firms which were implicated in the deal.” the source said.
The bribery case is said to have occurred before the appointment of the incumbent Managing Director,NPA, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman.
20 former NPA top officials are said to be linked to this case and are likely to be interrogated by the EFCC.
Background story of the alleged bribe
A firm had earlier been accused by the Switzerland Government over the bribe. The company was fined 1 million Swiss Francs by a Switzerland court, which also ordered it to pay back 36 million Swiss Francs described as illegal profits.
“We have been able to discover that the indicted firm had been entrenched in the system in the last 10 to 12 years with some contract procedure waivers linked to it.
“It is a big bribery scandal with international network. We will unravel all the perpetrators and beneficiaries.
“The good thing is that the Swiss government has always shown understanding by cooperating with the Federal Government.
“With the leg work done by our team, the $20million was not consultancy fees as being claimed by some of the highly-placed Nigerians.” the source said.
The EFCC now plan to partner with the Swiss authorities to look into the bribery case.