Posted by Daily Independent, 10 January 2006 on
Presidential aspirant, Buba Marwa, may have been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last week after he agreed to refund his alleged share in a deal involving the late Head of State, Sani Abacha.
Presidential aspirant, Buba Marwa, may have been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last week after he agreed to refund his alleged share in a deal involving the late Head of State, Sani Abacha.
It was learnt that he pledged to forfeit his properties in London, New York, Washington and Paris to the Nigerian Government in a bargain to stop his prosecution.
EFCC sources said Marwa is not accused of keeping money that belonged to Abacha; rather, he was allegedly involved in a deal with the deceased and another businessman who has fled the country.
In the pact, according to the sources, Abacha allegedly pocketed $100 million, the Chiagouri brothers picked up $40 million and Marwa helped himself with $12 million.
It was this sum the EFCC reportedly moved to recover from Marwa when it arrested him.
He reportedly co-operated fully and accepted to refund the money instead of facing the courts.
Marwa recently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has made it known that he will run for President in the next elections.
He first hit the limelight as the Military Administrator of Lagos State in the days of Abacha. He was before then a military attache to the Nigerian mission in the United States.
Now, Marwa is widely known as the owner Albarka Airlines.
He could not be reached on telephone on Monday but an associate of his denied such a deal with the EFCC.
The man said the story is an attempt to tarnish the image of Marwa and that he will not hestitate to seek legal redress.
According to him, Marwa was released by the EFCC on self recognition and 'if a deal had been struck, there would be no need for him to report to the commission every week".