The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that Femi Olukayode, former Director General of the Goodluck Jonathan re-election campaign whom is currently facing money laundering trial, used 15 GTBank accounts in the course of his dealings.
According to a press statement from the EFCC, during the course of investigation of campaign funds, one Zenith bank account was located with N1.1 billion therein. The biometric identification numbers traced to the account were said to belong to Fani-Kayode and the other (with BVN 2205597283) for Sonia Chikwendu.
The same BVN is linked to 2 other accounts in Diamond bank and 15 accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank.
Many Nigerian banks are under investigation by the EFCC for aiding and abetting individuals linked to corrupt activities. This year alone, several bank directors including Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo and Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe have been detained by the EFCC for investigations related to high profile corruption and money laundering.
The EFCC’s full statement is reproduced below.
The wife of Femi Fani-Kayode and her child are not in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and were never detained by the Commission. Contrary to the media spin about the purported arrest of mother and child, a certain Chikwendu Sonia today attempted to withdraw money from an Access Bank account that had been placed on ‘Post No Debit’ Category, following the discovery of illicit cash flows into the account.
She was intercepted by the bank while the Commission was notified but because it was late, the EFCC advised that the suspect be taken to the police station for processing and release on bail.
They were arranging to take the suspect to the police station when Governor Ayo Fayose stormed the bank with thugs and his personal security and forcefully secured the release of the suspect, with claims that the EFCC had no power to detain anybody in his state. He also vowed to close down the branch of the bank.
The said account, which had a balance of N 2,307,712.82 was flagged following investigation into the PDP Joint Trust fund when the Commission traced N1.1billion to the Zenith Bank account of Fani-Kayode. It was discovered that the account had two biometric identification numbers, one for Fani-Kayode and the other (with BVN 2205597283)for Sonia Chikwendu. The same BVN is linked to 2 other accounts in Diamond bank and 15 accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank.