From James Ojo, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, in Maiduguri, Borno State, grilled two former ministers, Mohammed Wakil, a former minister of Power and Alhaji Abdu Bulama, a former minister of Science and Technology.
They were grilled over their imvolvement in the $115 million 2015 ampaign funds allegedly disbursed by former Petroleum Resources minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both were PDP campaign coordinators for Borno and Yobe states respectively during the last Presidential Election.
Sources at the commission said the two ministers were quizzed by operatives on Monday, in Maiduguri, Borno State. Another source said Bulama admitted collecting N450 million from former Finance minister, senator Nenadi Usman and distributed same to party men in the three senatorial district of the state.
Bulama also admitted the money was used in funding the PDP presidential election in the state.
“Nenadi Usman called and informed me to go and collect money in Fidelity Bank. A five-man committee was set up to coordinate the campaign activities in Yobe State, and we received N450 million. The money was disbursed based on a template we received from Abuja and we shared it among the three senatorial zones in the state,” Bulama reportedly said.
Muhammed Kadai, who was Bulama’s deputy, provided details of the sharing formula. According to him, “the money was shared according to zones; for zone A, Abba –Gana Tata collected the sum of over N85, 100,000.00, while Dr. Mamu collected N73, 510.000.00 on behalf of Mohammed Hassan Dambu and zone C received N70, 470.000.00, through Alhaji Hassan Ibn Jaks for Dr. Yarima Ngama.”
The Borno coordinator, Wakil also confirmed he received N450 million.
“I received a call from Nenadi Usman that N450 million was sent to Fidelity Bank and a template for how the disbursement of the funds will be conducted. was handed down.”
Wakil further stated that he collected the money and shared it as follows: “Nicholas Msheliya, Peter Biye, Hon. Kudla satumaria, Hon. Ibrahim Birma, all from southern Borno received the sum of N112, 340.000.00. Equally Hon. Kangar, through Dr. A.A Kulima, received N88, 620.000.00, while Mohammad Baba Kachalla, Hon. Kaamuna Khadi, Hon. Zarma Mustapha and Hon. Abdulrahman Tarab received the sum of 140,860.000.00.
Similarly, the sum of N40 million was allegedly given to Hon. Komalia for onward transmission to Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff for Security.
The two ministers are currently in the custody of EFCC as investigation continues.