EFCC PROBES DIEZIANI OVER N4B HOTEL DEAL WITH ex-MILAD

Detectives have uncovered another multi-billion
naira transaction believed to have been carried
out by former Petroleum Resources Minister
Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) is probing a N4billion
hotel deal between Mrs. Alison-Madueke and
a former military administrator, whose identity
is yet to be released “so as to protect the
investigation”. The hotel may be placed under
Interim Forfeiture as soon as the preliminary
investigation is concluded, The Nation learnt.
But detectives of the anti-graft agency have
secured the relevant papers on the hotel
valued at N4billion
Also, it was gathered at the weekend that
some business associates of Mrs Alison-
Madueke were yet to refund to the EFCC
about $1.85billion traced to them.
They would rather follow through the case
than make a refund, a source said.
According to the anti-graft agency, the hotel
was one of the five being investigated in Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The Nation reported on September 13 that a
special team of operatives was drafted to Port
Harcourt to locate five houses suspected to
be the ex-minister’s.
It was learnt that the interim report of the
team indicated “a strongly suspected hotel
purchase deal” between the ex-minister and
the former military administrator.
An EFCC source said: “We have been able to
link the N4 billion hotel in Port Harcourt to
the ex-minister. We are probing alleged sales
deal between her and a former military
administrator.
“We have been able to ascertain the value of
the hotel. But we are gradually tracking how
the deal was carried out including verification
of bank details and transactions by all those
involved.
“Some of these deals we are unearthing were
carried out in layers in order to shield them
away from anti-corruption agencies. But we
are cracking them all.”
The source added: “For strategic reasons, we
will not reveal the identities of the ex-MILAD
and others connected with the deal at this
stage of investigation.
“But very soon, the transactions will be made
known to the public. Do not forget, we have
four other properties under surveillance.”



Source :naijaloaded
Edited by DANIEL IKECHUKWU EKWUNIFE