EFCC: N676m Immigration jobs cash blown on houses

Ex-Minister Abba Moro, four others to face trial for alleged 419

SOME OF THE CHARGES

Conspiracy to induce 676,675 applicants to deliver N676,675,000 under false pretence
Collection of N676,675,000 under false pretence purportedly for online recruitment e-payment
Award of contract to Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd without advertisement of the contract
Award of contract without Needs Assessment and Procurement plan
Award of contract through selective tendering process without approval by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP)
Obtaining N676,675,000 to buy a property, No 1 Lahn Crescent Maitama, Abuja
Converting N120,100,000 to upgrade No 2, Sigure Close, off Monrovia Street, Wuse II, Abuja

WHERE is the N676.6 million collected in 2014 from Immigration Service job seekers?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) believes the cash was splashed on choice property. Former Interior Minister Abba Moro and four others are to stand trial for allegedly collecting fraudulently N676.6million from 676,675 job seekers.

The EFCC said N202,500,000 was spent on buying No. 1, Lahn Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and N120, 100,000 was lavished on the upgrade of No.2, Sigure Close, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse II Abuja.

The commission said the recruitment firm, Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu converted N101, 200,000 to US dollars for personal use.

Nineteen applicants died and scores got injured in stampede in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Minna in March 2014 during the ill-fated recruitment.

The EFCC made the startling revelations in the 11 charges preferred against Moro and four other accused persons yesterday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The others are a former Permanent Secretary, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, F. O. Alayebami , Mahmood Ahmadu and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.

Ahmadu, who is described as being central to the scandal, is said to be on the run.

According to an EFCC source, “the charges have been served on all the accused persons in preparation for their arraignment in court.

“We are waiting for the court to give us a date for their arraignment but they are in our custody,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.

All the accused persons, including Moro, will face trial for Advance Fee Fraud (otherwise known as 419), violation of Public Procurement Act No. 65 of 2007, misconduct, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission Act 2000 and offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011.

The charges are as follows:

“That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, F.O Alayebami , Mahmood Ahmadu (at large) and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd on or about the 17th of March 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud conspired to induce a total number of 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to deliver property to wit: cumulative sum of N676,675,000 which sum represents the sum of N1,000 per applicant under the false pretence that the money represents payment for their online recruitment exercise into Nigerian Immigration Service and which pretence you knew was false, contrary to Section 8 and 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences

Act, No. 14 of 2006

“That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, F.O Alayebami , Mahmood Ahmadu ( at large) and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd on or about the 17th of March 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud conspired to induce a total number of 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to deliver property to wit: cumulative sum of N676,675,000 which sum represents the sum of N1,000 per applicant under the false pretence that that you have followed the necessary procedure and that the money represents epayment for their online recruitment exercise into Nigerian Immigration Service and which pretence and you knew was false, contrary to Section 8 and 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.

“That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited without Needs Assessment and Procurement Plan, contract contrary to Section 16(1) (b) and Section 18 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 of the same Act.

“That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited to develop recruitment portal through selective tendering process by inviting four(4) firms without seeking approval of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) contrary to sections 40, 42 and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 of the same Act.

“That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and signed by unregistered Drexel Tech Global Nigeria Limited when you knew that Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited was not responsive to mandatory prequalification contrary to sections 50(5) and 51 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 of the same Act.

“That you Abba Moro, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, and F.O Alayebami on or about the 30th of April 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did award contract for the provision of online enlistment and recruitment services to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and signed by unregistered Drexel Tech Global Nigeria Limited when you knew that there was no budgetary provision for the exercise in the 2014 Federal Capital Budget and transferring responsibility to fund the project to applicants through mandatory payment of N1,000 without approval of the Board, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Act 2000.

“That you Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N202,500,000 part of the N676,675,000 obtained from 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to buy property No. 1, Lahn Crescent Maitama, Abuja with the aim of disguising the illicit origin of the said sum, knowing same to be proceeds of illegal activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“That you Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N120, 100,000 being part of the N676,675,000 obtained from 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to upgrade property No.2 Sigure Close, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse II Abuja with the aim of disguising the illicit origin of the said sum knowing same to be proceeds of illegal activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“That you Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Mahmood Ahmadu(At large) on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N101, 200,000 being part of the N676,675,000 obtained from 676,675 Nigerian job applicants seeking employment with Nigerian Immigration Service to United States dollars for your personal use knowing same to be proceeds of illegal activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act. “