Posted by By Joe Omokaro on
Two men, Messrs Bola Balogun and Tunde Ajala, suspected to be top proxies used by embattled former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, have been arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Two men, Messrs Bola Balogun and Tunde Ajala, suspected to be top proxies used by embattled former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, have been arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Both were said to have gone underground shortly after the former IG was arraigned penultimate Monday (April 4) at an Abuja High Court.
EFCC detectives reportedly clamped down on Balogun in Lagos while Ajala was picked up in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.
Sunday Sun gathered that Mr. Balogun was allegedly used in most financial transactions by the former IG, particularly police contracts thereby wielding much powers within the police circle during Tafa's reign.
According to a source at EFCC, Balogun was said to have been implicated in a scam in building Police Mobile Force (PMF), Training School in Tafa Balogun's town Ila, Osun State.
He allegedly used eleven different companies to get various contract sums totaling about N500million for the same training school. The companies are: Ceejay Thomas Nig Ltd; Rocky Stalon Tropical Company; Balix Nigeria Limited and Sledge Integrated Company; Allan Bright Nigeria Limited; Graham Rockard Nigeria Limited as well as Koms Holding Nigeria Limited; Travis Mandy Company; Bravin Chall Coastal; Valdit Global Nigeria Limited and MGV Maygem Ventures.
Sunday Sun further gathered that EFCC has traced five of the companies to Kola Balogun as the direct owner. He was, on interrogation, said to have admitted that he bought the rest companies from unnamed lawyers who registered the companies with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with different names.
Sunday Sun also learnt that each of the companies got different contracts for the same training school. For instance, a company got contract to construct classrooms and armoury, another for furnishing, another for Dormitory block A and another for Dormitory block B, and so on.
EFCC sources told Sunday Sun that the commission is investigating whether the Police Contract Board sat and awarded the contracts to the 11 companies. It is also investigating the relationship between Kola Balogun and Tafa Balogun as relates the award of the contracts so as to establish a criminal case against the duo.
Sources at EFCC also disclosed that Balogun has another contract from the police apart from that of Ilaro under phase two being investigated.
Meanwhile, Ajala was said to be involved in another contract scam. EFCC sources claimed that he is involved in the building of PMF barracks in Port Harcourt said to contain 50 blocks of 2-bedroom flats.
The contract was allegedly awarded to Tafa Balogun but in the name of Tunde Ajala, which he was said to have denied.
Rivers state government was said to have financially supported the project, as part of its contribution for the well-being of the Nigeria Police.
Both of them are still being interrogated by EFCC operatives and are said to have suddenly developed illness and are hospitalised. Ajala is said to be suffering from hypertension, while the ailment of Balogun remains undisclosed. Investigations by Sunday Sun revealed that Ajala whose blood presssure rose to about 200 was said to have requested to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday April 13, 2005 and reportedly told his interrogators that "he prefers to remain in our (EFCC) clinic."
It was gathered that because of his condition he is being detained in an office while he goes for treatment. Their illnesses are said to have forced EFCC operatives to suspend interrogation until they get better.
With these fresh developments, there is the possibilty that the embattled former IGP may face fresh charges apart from the 70 currently being preferred against him.
EFCC counsel, Musleen Hassan, disclosed on Wednesday at Federal High Court Abuja where Tafa is being arraigned that the commission is still investigating the former IG for financial malpractices. This, according to him, might result in fresh charges.