$2b Bank Fraud: FG probes 2 serving ministers, ex-CBN gov

The Federal Government has launched a probe into how a former Central Bank Governor connived with two serving ministers in the present administration to rip off no fewer than 65,000 Nigerians through official manipulation and transfer of their shares to foreign entities for pecuniary reasons.

The probe was triggered by a strong petition filed by shareholders, whose shares were inexplicably reduced by the key government agencies and officials and awarded to the foreign entities apparently fronting for them. Before now, allegations against serving ministers and top government officials were hardly investigated by the anti-graft agencies. This tended to give credence to allegations that President Buhari’s anti-graft war was targeted at only the opposition. The latest development, our sources said, could prove critics wrong. The government swung into action immediately after the petition was received and acknowledged by the Public Prosecution Department of the OHAGF on April 3, 2019.





In the petition entitled: “Official Corruption, Misuse of FGN $2 Billion, Fraud And Unjust Enrichment Of Persons Who Dispossessed More Than 65,000 Nigerians And Conferred Ownership Of A Nigerian Bank On Few Nigerians And Their Foreign Accomplices,” the victims detailed how the illicit bank deal was structured and executed by the culprits now working with the government as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was learnt that on getting the petition, the government immediately set in motion a strong team to study it and take urgent steps to investigate the claims in the documents and refer the matter to appropriate anti-graft agency to deal with any economic and financial crimes that might have been orchestrated by the suspects. A source close to the investigation said that the government was concerned about the role played by the two ministers and the former CBN governor.


Vanguard