The Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) has directed ex-National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) members to return all official vehicles still in their possession, it was learned on Saturday.
The EFCC in a letter dated August 20, 2020, and signed by Ahmad Saโad Abubakar, Zonal Head, Abuja for the Acting Executive Chairman, directed the acting Secretary of the NASC, to tell the ex-National Commissioners to return their official vehicles.
The anti-graft agency also directed that members who have sold their cars should be made to pay the appropriate amount to the government upon valuation.
Findings by The Nation showed that prices for new Peugeot 508 cars in Nigeria starts from N17,752,050.00, therefore bringing the purchase value of the 12 vehicles to N213,024,600.00.
The EFCCโs letter reads in part: โWe refer to the case of the alleged conspiracy and criminal conversion of Public Property involving the erstwhile chairman and commissioners of your commission.
โIn view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform the under listed former commissioners to return the official vehicles โ 508 Cars attached to them on or before September 3, 2020, and to those who have already disposed of their cars, your office should value it on its appropriate Government value price for repayment to Government pending the conclusion of the investigation into the matter.โ
The letter listed ex-NASC members to return their official cars to include: Alhaji Adamu Fika (chairman), Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, Alhaji Abubakar Garba Rufai, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abugi, Elder Stephen Yepwi and Mrs. Riskat Oyebimbe Alabi.
Others are: Barrister Oluwafunmilola Lamuye, Hon. Abe Chukwu, Hon. Godfrey Dikeocha, Senator Dahiru Gassol, Mallam Idi Adamu Ningi and Dr. Paul Oweh.
According to the EFCC, the request was made โpursuant to Section 38 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.โ
It was further learned that a former Clerk of National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, had conveyed the โno-objectionโ of the Presiding Officers of the Senate and House of Representatives to the Secretary of the NASC that the outgoing members of the commission should be allowed go with their last official vehicles in line with the extant practice at the National Assembly and as requested by the former NASC members.
Sani-Omolori had in his letter dated July 18, 2018, said that the Presiding Officers of the National Assembly had approved that the outgoing members of the Commission should go with their last official vehicles.
The letter with reference No: NASS/CNA/160 Vol13/582 was titled: โRe: Request for your clarification of the pool vehicles of the outgoing members of the National Assembly Service Commission.โ
Sani-Omolori said: โI write with reference to your letter NASC/CNA/43/11/37 dated 17th July 2018 on the above subject and to confirm that officers who retired from the National Assembly Service Commission at the level of Secretary or Director have always been allowed to go away with their last official vehicles either on payment of fixed prices or for free.
โFurther, I wish to convey to you the no-objection of the Presiding Officers to allow the present National Assembly Service Commissioners/Secretary to go away with their last official vehicles โ Peugeot 508.
โThe Procurement Directorate is also being advised to conclude the auctioning of the Hilux to the Commissioners to enable them to pay the auction price and possess the vehicles accordingly.โ
Although no ex-member of the NASC could be reached for comments, sources at the Commission confirmed the development.
