The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday and Wednesday interrogated a source close to the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad in connection with a multi million naira Paris Club Refund fraud.
The close source to the traditional leader, Kabir Tafida, the Sarkin Fada of Sokoto, who also acts as the chief of staff to Sultan Abubakar Sa’ad was interrogated in connection with the Sultan’s implication in the N700 million fraud.
Mr. Tafida was however released on administrative bail on Wednesday evening after what was described as an “unceasing pressure on the EFCC by the Sultan and the Sokoto State government”.
According to sources, Mr. Tafida was first invited by the EFCC to the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday and was later asked to return on Wednesday for further questioning.
A source close to the case revealed that the money in question was taken from the Sokoto State’s share of the Paris club which was recently disbursed across the 36 states in the country including the Federal Capital Territory.
Premium Times however revealed that at least N700 million was disbursed to the state, an amount which was paid into Mr. Tafida’s account.
Investigators close to the case said Mr. Tafida had not offered any service to the state government to warrant such transfer adding that “the suspect has also been receiving huge funds from the government of Sokoto on behalf of the Sultan.”
Another source further added that Mr. Tafida was not detained at the EFCC’s office on Tuesday because of the pressure mounted on the agency by the Sultan and the Sokoto State Government.
The spokesperson to Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Imam Imam, when contacted by news source stated that he had just been briefed of the development adding that the Sokoto State government would issue a statement shortly.
A top official with the state government however stated that the N700 million traced to the Sarkin Fada “is from the government of Sokoto State and is meant for the purchase of a House for the Sultan in Abuja”.
He added that the monarch did not have an official residence in Abuja hence the transfer. He added that “the matter was discussed extensively at the meeting of the state executive council and due approval granted.
“In fact, the money is captured in the state’s 2017 budget and was officially released.”
Investigators however stated that the money in Mr. Tafida’s account was meant for the Sultanate.
“Also why was the money not paid to an estate agent or a contractor buying or building a house for the Sultan,” one investigator said. “As far as we are concerned, there is something suspicious about this transaction.”