Posted by By JOE OMOKARO on
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are set to commence the arrest of traditional rulers and other Nigerians identified as having enjoyed cash, vehicle and property gifts from the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are set to commence the arrest of traditional rulers and other Nigerians identified as having enjoyed cash, vehicle and property gifts from the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
The Commission had last week, given a two-week ultimatum to this category of Nigerians who got gratification from the former police boss to return same or risk arrest.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Osita Nwaja, it said "Investigations by EFCC have revealed that some prominent members of the society including serving and retired public office holders and traditional rulers around the country, have received questionable donations and gifts in form of monies, vehicles equipment and property belonging to the Nigeria Police.
"Holding on to these illegally diverted monies, vehicles, equipment and property is tantamount to aiding and abetting… These individuals are hereby advised to return these properties to the Nigeria Police within two weeks of this notice, failing which EFCC would have no choice than to initiate action aimed at forcing the recovery of such items and bringing their holders to book."
Sunday Sun can report that the commission may from next week, round up all those so identified. They would however, be arrested only after their names had been made public.
Reliable sources at the EFCC revealed that two different lists of those found to have "soiled" their hands with Tafa have been compiled.
Sunday Sun was further informed that the first list would be released next week at the expiration of the ultimatum issued to them to return cash, vehicles and property they got from Tafa who is standing trial for alleged acts of corruption while in office.
The sources further revealed that after the two weeks deadline, the Commission may be forced to arrest those who failed to comply.
It was further learnt that the second list would be released after the Commission is through with the recovery of ill gotten monies and property from those on first list.
Most of the traditional rulers said to have enjoyed Tafa's patronage are said to come from his home state of Osun.
Sunday Sun gathered that Tafa's investigation by the EFCC is expanding almost on a weekly basis, as fresh facts and revelations continue to surface.
For instance, names of some senior retired police officers are said to be on the list of those to be invited for questioning by the Commission.
The list, it was gathered, was being discretely screened with a view to deleting names of those who are innocent.
A former IGP (names withheld) who reportedly got assistance from the Police under Tafa's regime while receiving treatment abroad, is said to have been exonerated of any wrong doing.
"In such a case we cannot invite him because as former IG he is expected to receive such a gesture. That is not the type we are talking about," one of the sources disclosed.
As investigations into Tafa's alleged corrupt enrichment intensified last week, Sunday Sun had exclusively reported that two men, Tunde Ajala and Kola Balogun, suspected to be proxies used by the former IGP, had been nabbed and were being detained by EFCC.
The former Police boss was alleged to have awarded a N500 million contract for the building of a Mobile Police training school to eleven companies, which have now been traced, to Kola
The training school is located in his hometown of Ila in Osun State.