Posted by By PHILIP NWOSU and OLUWATOYOSI OGUNSEYE on
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tightened the noose around the neck of a traditional ruler in Enugu, following an accusation that it collected $3 million to set the man free after he was held for defrauding an American citizen.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tightened the noose around the neck of a traditional ruler in Enugu, following an accusation that it collected $3 million to set the man free after he was held for defrauding an American citizen.
The traditional ruler, who was identified as Igwe Godwin Madu, allegedly swindled the American, a former Senator from Bahamas of $1.4million, but he denied committing the offence.
The US lawmaker, who was also identified as Mr. Shaarlene Lightbourne, is angry and has asked the EFCC to expedite action on the case and make the traditional ruler cough out his money.
"In addition to the recovery of the $1.4million I would want to be compensated by way of punitive damages that should be imposed upon Mr. Mustapha and his cohorts for the enormous damage they have caused me," Lightbourne said.
Daily Sun reliably gathered that the traditional ruler , who oversees the Achi community in Enugu State has coughed out $11,000 and 4,700 pounds sterling and he is still being squeezed to vomit more to meet the demand of the American.
Already, investigations revealed that the traditional ruler has sold his property in London to enable him meet the deadline for the payment of the funds.
While the EFCC was making efforts to ensure a recovery of the fund, information filtered to Mr. Lightbourne in his Bahamas home that the organisation has developed cold feet in its investigation after some of its top officers had taken money from the accused.
Lightbourne had indicated this in an e-mail to EFCC Director of Operations, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, who he also thanked for assisting in the recovery made so far. "I am somewhat surprised that after the great enthusiasm with which you approached me in December, 2004 and solicited my help in apprehending and prosecuting Mr. Mustapha, it appears that your interest has gone completely cold."
He accused the EFCC of collecting a bribe of $3million, but later retraced his steps and apologised to the organisation.
He said in another e-mail, that he had discovered the truth from his attorney, saying "I am sorry about the misinformation and regret any inconvenience this might have caused you."
The traditional ruler in his own defence said that he had no cause to bribe the EFCC, adding that those peddling the rumour were trying to jeopardize his case.
Igwe Madu told Daily Sun that he never committed the offence, but some persons had actually approached him to use his account to transfer money, which he did and that he never knew it would result to this.
Apart from this, he said that the kingship tussle in the community, which has taken a deadly dimension, had prompted some of his opponents to falsify facts in other to stop his coronation as the Igwe of Achi.
While denying allegation, he said that he had given the EFCC money to turn the case in his favour, "I have told you what they want to do. They want to make me an enemy of those who are handling my case.
"These are the same people that came to stop my installation."
He confirmed that he travelled to London recently, but failed to disclose what he had gone to do, adding that he was not under any travel restrictions. He accused a group called The New Citizen Forum of not carrying out its investigations rightly.
His words: "I want you people to check them, see who and who are the members of New Citizens Forum, because I know that the leader is not genuine. You need to find out this New Citizens people. Who are their members and sponsors? What are the occupation of the members?"
He said that he had discovered that somebody was working in concert with the Citizens Forum to nail him, adding that, "it is the same person that agreed to pay them this N10million. This is the same person that used my company's account in transferring money and of course, he asked me before making this transfer into my account and we agreed on the basis that the fund was not illegally obtained."