Posted by By Ayodele Aminu on
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and whisked to Abuja a director in Bond Bank, Mr. John Olatunde Ayeni.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and whisked to Abuja a director in Bond Bank, Mr. John Olatunde Ayeni.
His arrest THISDAY gathered, may not be unconnected with the on-going investigation of those alleged to have helped the embattled Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha who dramatically returned into the country last week following his arrest over money laundering charges, siphon public funds out of the country for the Governor's personal use.
As at last night when this report was being filed, Ayeni - a lawyer who claimed to have worked with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice on legal matters and acted as solicitor to Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar (A.A. Oil) in many transactions involving properties within and outside Nigeria, was still being held by the operatives of the EFCC. Ayeni was said to have been whisked back to Lagos yesterday.
In one of his confessional statements, Ayeni was said to have disclosed that the E170,000.00 cheque was the first cheque Alamieyeseigha gave to him to forward to Nedd & Co. for furnishing of his (Alamieyeseigha) house but he (Ayeni) subsequently discovered that the money was used for the purchase of property at 68-70 Regent's Park, London.
Ayeni further stated that the E132,000 he paid to Nedd & Co. was for the same property. The same was for the sums of E42,275.92 and E63,431.25 he also paid to Nedd & Co. on 23/2/02 and 12/7/02 respectively. He claimed to have made all these transactions on behalf of his client, Alhaji Abubakar.
On the inflow of Santolina account from his HSBC account of $525,000.00 and E18,000.00, Ayeni added that sometime in 2003 while in London, the account of the Governor at HSBC was closed and he then gave him two drafts which he (Ayeni) paid into his account.
Ayeni said when he reminded Alamieyeseigha in 2004 that the money is still with him, he then directed him to pay into Santolina Investment account.
Ayeni claimed to have collected the drafts from a certain Patel Norendra of HSBC London on behalf of Alamieyeseigha, which he claimed to have refunded in US dollars because he had not enough in his sterling account during that period.
The Bond Bank director had also stated that he currently manages three properties of Alamieyeseigha located at Plot 26, Balshir Dalhatu Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, 4A Ilu Avenue, Off Macperson Street, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 1 community Road, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
He also disclosed that Alamieyeseigha has also made a part payment of N1.5 billion for the purchase of Chelsea Hotels Abuja which was sold to him for N2 billion.
The erstwhile Managing Director/CEO of Bond Bank, Mr. John Darlington, it would be recalled, had also been arrested few months ago over allegations of fraudulently converting former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun's funds placed in the bank's custody.