According to SaharaReporters, Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission this afternoon arrested immediate past Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria, Charles Soludo in connection with the Australian polymer banknotes bribery scam.
A close relative of Mr. Soludo confirmed to Saharareporters operatives picked up the former CBN governor in Abuja a few hours ago.
A government source told Saharareporters that Mr. Soludo is facing interrogation by the EFCC at its Abuja office with regards to his role in the bribery of CBN officials by an Australian currency mint company, Securency.
The source told our reporters about a dozen other CBN former and serving CBN officials have also been apprehended for questioning on the deal.
EFCC spokesperson could not be reached for confirmation of the arrest.
An Australian newspaper ‘The Age’ that blew the scam open, reported that Securency International, a company that manufactures polymer used in banknotes in 28 countries, paid kickbacks to secure polymer note printing contracts in some countries, including Nigeria. The sum of N750 million is said to have been paid to bribe Nigerian officials.
At the Nigerian end of the international swindle, Securency International, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, paid millions of dollars into the offshore bank accounts of two British-based businessmen for onward transfer to some top Nigerian government functionaries and CBN officials to win the 2006 polymer printing contract.