Amid the growing frenzy of the war against corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, beneficiaries of payments from the ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki’s office have severally come forth for accountability.

Respected statesman, and Special Adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari, Tanko Takasai has confirmed that he received the sum of N53 million from Chief Tony Anenih.

On Wednesday, January 6, he revealed that 8 other prominent northerners had shares in the sum paid for advocacy visit to northern traditional rulers to prime their subjects for the smooth run of the general election in 2015.

In an interview with Vanguard Newspaper, Yakasai said  “yes, myself and 8 others collected N53m from chief Tony Anenih to pay advocacy visit to prominent northern emirs to mobilised their subjects for a hitch free 2015 general elections”.

He expressed that Chief Anenih had requested for a list of “9 political but respected individuals from the north”.

The payment made to him, he said covered the expenses of the group on the advocacy tour that took them to 18 states in the north.

Some of the expenses included allowance for the members of the team, hotel expenses and transportation.

Yakasai further stated that former minister of state, foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada and Alhaji Suleiman Lawal were part of the beneficiaries of the money.

Other beneficiaries include, Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi.

He also denied any link between the funds and the campaign of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential poll maintaining that he never received financial patronage from the previous administration as he revealed in a previous interview with Vanguard.

In the said interview, he said “I want to make it categorically clear that no officials of the last regime either Mr. Jonathan, his lieutenant, agents, contractors or person having links or relationship with the last administration gave me cash on behalf of that regime for a reason.”

Yakasai, revealed that the mission of the advocacy team led them to visit the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the emir of Gwandu.

The list of other first class chiefs visited by Yakasai’s team also includes, The Emir of Anka, Emir of Ilorin, Emir of Nassarawa, Minnie, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia and representatives of Emir of Daurawa.

Other prominent rulers visited; The Tor Tiv, the Gwom Gbom Jos, Ohimege Igu, Kotonkarfe, Etsu of Abaji, Etsu Nupe and Atta Igala.

During the visit to Emir of Gombe, Yakasai said that his team had to be rescued because some terrorists attacked the city at the time.

He stated categorically “I want to make it abundantly clear that I didn’t receive money from Chief Anenih in my private capacity as Tanko Yakasai but to patriotic individuals who are interested in the peaceful coexistence of the polity”.