Revealed: Despite Adoke’s directive, EFCC refused to probe alleged $20m Switzerland scandal

Despite a directive given to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by former Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to probe an alleged $20 million bribery scandal uncovered in Switzerland, the anti-graft agency refused to do so, insisting that the affected funds might have been consultancy fees.
The Swiss authorities, through the Office of The Attorney-General, Department of International Affairs on May 2, 2012 had implicated some Nigerians in the $20 million scandal alongside Dredging International Services (Cyprus) Ltd.
Aside referring the allegations to the EFCC, Adoke also sent the outcome of the EFCC investigation to Felix Reinmann, the Swiss Federal Attorney.
A letter by Adoke revealed the steps taken by the Federal Government.
The letter said: “I refer to your letter dated 2nd May 2012, wherein you forwarded a Mutual Legal Assistance request to Nigeria on the above subject matter. The request was brought pursuant to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the International Law Principle of Reciprocity.
“The documents on further findings of the executing competent authority, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealed that the money was paid as consultancy fee to the various recipients.
“The said documents are herein forwarded to you verbatim.
“Accept please, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteemed regards.
According to an online newspaper, Dredging International Services (Cyprus) Ltd, was sentenced to a fine of one million Swiss Francs and asked to refund 36 million Swiss Francs illegal profit.
The fines were imposed after the company was indicted for allegedly making illicit payments to a former Managing Director of the NPA, Adebayo Sarumi; a former Managing Director of NPA’s Eastern Ports, Felix Ovbude; a former Executive Director of Finance at the NPA, Abba Murtala Mohammed; and Daniel Afam-Obi, a former executive assistant to Sullivan Akachukwu Nwankpo who was former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Technical Matters.
It is believed Mr. Afam-Obi acted on behalf of Mr. Nwankpo.
While Messrs Sarumi, Ovbude and Mohammed allegedly received $2.6 million in kickbacks, Mr. Afam-Obi was said to have been paid $157,000 for unknown reasons.
Another $18 million was passed to companies in which some yet unknown Nigerian officials have interests.