FG will prosecute more suspects —Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has talked tough as the Federal Government digs deeper into the fuel subsidy scam, promising that more suspects will be prosecuted.

His avowal on Friday, came even as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned five out of the 20 suspects at the Lagos High Court last Thursday.

Among the suspects arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was Mahmud Tukur, son of the National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Bamanga Tukur. Also, Mamman Ali, son of a former national chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali, was charged.

The president spoke through his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in Abuja.

Abati told SUNDAY PUNCH in an exclusive interview that the president was very serious about the prosecution of the subsidy scam suspects and that he promised to expose or prosecute more fraudsters.

When asked about the feelings of the president on the arraignment of the son of Tukur and that of Ali, the presidential spokesman said, “What their arraignment means is that the president is not ready to spare anybody as he has been promising Nigerians.”

He explained that, “More people other than those who are currently being prosecuted will be arraigned.”

“Since these cases are already getting to the court, we can no longer be talking extensively on them.”

He further said, “The arraignment is just confirming what the President has been saying that there will be no sacred cow in the anti-corruption war.

“The president is committed to fighting corruption and he will definitely walk his talk.”

A committee set up by the president headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, had recommended that about N382bn, fraudulently siphoned from public treasury be recovered.

This came after three FG’s committees had verified fuel subsidy transactions.

But government’s action was preceded by a House of Representatives probe of fuel subsidy management in the country, in April, which reported a fraud of N1.07trn by marketers and those in government.

The House report was submitted to the president for implementation.

While the House, on Friday, welcomed government’s harmonisation of its report with that of Aig-Imoukhuede, it however, cautioned against what it described as “half-hearted” prosecution, influenced by political manipulations.

However, all the committees made far-reaching recomm-endations. In all, about 140 firms may face charges for subsidy fraud.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, told SUNDAY PUNCH that government took the right step by commencing the prosecution of suspects.

He said, “It is to the credit of the House that we investigated the rot called fuel subsidy, which was a drain on the nation’s economy.

“However, the prosecution must be thorough; it must be pursued to a logical conclusion. It should not be a half-hearted affair.”

Mohammed noted that the difference in the number of firms and persons recommended for prosecution by the government’s three committees and the House Ad hoc Committee on Monitoring of Subsidy Regime was not the point at issue, but the commitment to prosecute the suspects.

While the House committee recommended about 45 firms for prosecution, the three committees set up by government put up about 140 firms for trial.

“What is important is that let people be punished for the crime they committed against the Nigerian people”, Mohammed said.

According to the House spokesman, the list the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, is using to prosecute the offenders is a “harmonised report.”

“There are three reports now, the Aigboje Imoukhuede report, the House report and one other administrative report – all on fuel subsidy matter.

“As the AG said, government has harmonised all the reports; they are using a sort of hybrid report now.

“So, the number is expected to be higher than what the House submitted.

“The House is happy that something is happening, that is our aim”, Mohammed added.

However, the House probe assumed a dramatic twist when oil magnet, Mr. Femi Otedola, in June disclosed that he paid $620,000 bribe to the chairman of the House Ad hoc committee panel on the subsidy probe, Mr. Farouk Lawan, and Mr. Emmanuel Emenalo, who had acted as clerk to the panel.

Farouk admitted collecting the money, but claimed that he played along to expose Otedola. But the lawmaker in the House whom he claimed to have given the cash to keep, had publicly denied him.

The Police in Abuja investigating the matter are not clear on which way to go on the matter, following non-recovery of the $620,000.