The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating the withdrawal of another N10 billion from the Signature Bonus Account (oil block account) by the government of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
According to a report by The Nation, the fund was withdrawn barely seven weeks to the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The N10 billion is said to have been part of the N76 billion officially approved for withdrawal before the handover date to the new government.
A withdrawal mandate was reported to have been issued on April 9, 2015, by the Director of Funds.
It reads: “The AGF has directed that the following disbursements be effected from the balance of $726, 909, 118, 26 as at 31st March in the Signature Bonus Account: (i) ONSA (N10billion); (ii) DBN (N20billion) and (iii) PTDF ($150million).”
“In view of the above, mandate for the payment of N10 billion in favour of ONSA, based on the bank details, is enclosed abc for the AGF’s consideration and approval. The USD equivalent of the amount in Naira is to be debited to the Signature Bonus Account with JP Morgan Chase, please.”
“Kindly note that the other two expenditure items will be processed in the relevant files in due course. The above is submitted for the AGF’s consideration and approval and countersigning of the mandate for N10 billion abc.”
A source in EFCC was quoted to have said: “We have been investigating massive withdrawal of funds for either special services or extraneous items in the last few weeks to the inauguration of this new administration.”
“The total requests sent to the Accountant-General of the Federation amounted to N76 billion but we have been trying to establish whether or not the three tranches were withdrawn before May 29, 2015 when the handover was effected.”
“This latest N10 billion appears different from a similar amount deducted from CBN account for PDP Nomination Convention. The Mandate date was April 9, 2015 and the nomination convention was in 2014.”
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