Diezani in $115m cash-for-vote scandal, Fidelity Bank chiefs arrested

Thursday, April 28, 2016 4:45 am

Diezani Allison-Madueke : In a fresh scandal

Diezani Allison-Madueke : In cash-for-vote rigging scandal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the managing director of Fidelity Bank , Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo in connection with the $115 million slush fund routed through the bank by former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to buy votes for Goodluck Jonathan.

Also detained is the Fidelity Bank’s head of operation, Martin Izuogbe.

The $115million was contributed by several oil companies, including Diezani directly handing over $25million, all converted into N23. 3 billion to buy INEC officials to rig the 2015 election for Jonathan.

The arrest of the former resident electoral commissioner for Rivers state, Gesila Khan unlocked the gate to the scandal, which has also led the EFCC launch a manhunt for Ugonna Madueke, the former minister’s son.

Gesila Khan, middle, former INEC commissioner in Rivers State. She collected N185.8 million to rig the vote

Also under probe are the four companies which made up the $115million slush fund. They are Northern Belt Gas Company Limited; Auctus Integrated; Midwestern Oil and Gas; and Lenoil, owned by Laitan Adesanya.

Out of the N23.3 billion distributed by Fidelity Bank, Gesila Khan, now REC for Cross River got N185.8million . Fidelia Omoile (Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State) got N112.5 million ; Uluochi Obi Brown INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State got N111,500,000. A former Deputy Director of INEC in Cross River State, Edem Okon Effanga was paid N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo also got N214,127,000.

The EFCC is now busy compiling the list of INEC officials in all the 36 states, who were recipients of Diezani’s N23.29billion.

*Read more at TheNation