The Managing Director of Katakar Civil Engineering Company, Azibaola Robert, and an Executive Director of the company, Dakoru Atukpa, have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over a $40m pipeline contract.

Azibaola Robert is a cousin of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

The contract was said to have been awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Punch Newspapers reports that the arrest of Robert and Atukpa was subsequent to a list sent to the EFCC by a committee set up by the Federal Government to probe contracts awarded by the ONSA from 2011 to 2015.

Over 300 companies and prominent citizens, including serving and retired officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, were indicted in the report.

Robert and Atukpa were reportedly arrested on March 23, on the allegation of diversion of $40m public funds through Oneplus Holdings, a sister company of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited.

Oneplus Holdings is among the 300 firms under investigation by the Federal Government.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, was quoted to have said that the suspects received $40m from the ONSA for a dubious contract to supply tactical equipment.

“This is not a witch-hunt. He (Robert) is not Jonathan’s only cousin. The truth of the matter is that they are being held for a $40m contract he received from the ONSA. The mandate for the payment read, ‘Purchase of Tactical Equipment for Special Forces’.”

“Two days after their arrest, they were offered bail. The condition was that the sureties must be on the level of civil service directors and a N250m bank guarantee. They must also have landed properties in Abuja and provide tax evidence of two years. But they could not meet up.”

“So, the EFCC went to court for a remand order. They are being held pending the conclusion of investigation.”

Meanwhile, counsel to the suspects, Gordy Uche (SAN), said the contract was transparent, while noting that his clients were still being owed $4m as the balance of the contract sum for successfully securing oil pipelines.

He however, stated that “my client is being persecuted and punished because of his DNA, as a relative of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

“We have a civil dispute and then you turn round to lock up the party with whom you have a dispute. Then, you went ahead to give him impossible bail conditions: Two serving federal directors, each with properties in Maitama or Asokoro and original of their Certificates of Occupancy.”

“The four directors are also required to present bail bonds of N250m each from reputable banks. Robert and Atukpa are also required to deposit their passports.”