Vanguard (Lagos)

Nigeria: EFCC Quizzes Okereke-Onyiuke, Wabara

Emma Aziken and Bukola Ojeme

21 August 2008


Abuja — DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof. Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke, was yesterday taken in for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over her alleged role in raising funds for Mr. Barack Obama, the nominee of the Democratic Party in this year's United States presidential election.

Also picked up yesterday was Mr. Mark Wabara, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Hallmark Bank. He was, according to EFCC sources, ferried in from Sao Tome and Principe over a $5 million lodgment accruing from the sale of oil blocks allegedly in the former Hallmark Bank during the Obasanjo regime.

Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke was invited for questioning by the EFCC following muttering over her role in the recent fund raising organised by her in support of Mr. Obama.

Under US election laws, foreigners and non-US residents are barred from contributing to the election expenses of candidates for election in the US. Mr. Obama is expected to be endorsed as the Democratic Party presidential nominee at the party's convention next week.

Wabara, brother to former President of the Senate, Senator Adolphus Wabara, according to EFCC sources, was reported to the authorities by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during whose tenure in office the money was allegedly paid into the bank. He was reported to have fled the country sometime ago but ferried into the country yesterday by EFCC officials who arrested him in Sao Tome and Principe.

Hallmark Bank was one of the banks that did not meet the requirements of the Central Bank (CBN) during the consolidation exercise.

He was still being questioned by operatives of the EFCC last night.

EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the invitation of Okereke-Onyiuke and the arrest of Wabara.

It could, however, not be confirmed if Okereke-Onyiuke had been released at press time, though it was confirmed that Wabara was still undergoing interrogation.

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Author: girl.candy53
Fri Aug 22 12:41:37 2008

madam EFCC, u should be seriously ashamed of yrself and yr office. what business do u have arresting or questioning dr ndii okereke onyuike? igbo marginalization? what about lyle imoke? what about all these PROPERTY DIVIDING PARTY guys that have looted the treasury both in the past and the present? where is obasanjo and his loots? u are there investigating dr ndi okereke? shame on u and those who put u in office. if u are there to do the job, go get the president and his pen robbers, to sign the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, FOIB, into law. if this is done, we do not need yr office. we will do the job for u. just few weeks ago, u surrounded lyle imoke,s house with yr men in an attempt to arrest him. it only took a phone call for u and yr team to lower yr rifles. who made the call? what did the caller tell u before u hands off that operation? can u tell nigerians? be careful in yr selected approach of arrest, because the d day is coming. there will be no hiding place for u and yr men. do that job right or resign before they mess u up. i tell u this as an advice. no body, who looted our treasury will survive the d day. no matter where they run to. they will either refund that money to stay alive or stand to be lynched and everyone will loose that money to the foriegn bank where it is domiciled. the masses will have the last laugh. i am as usual, capital G.C.

Author: girl.candy53
Fri Aug 22 12:52:16 2008

madam EFCC, one more question for u, who paid the MEND militants the millions of dollars, shown in NNPC books? how much exactly, was paid out? what was the payment for? where is our oil windfall money? how were they spent? why did former governor ahmed of central bank die as soon as he left office? does it have anything to do with hiding how the windfall money was spent? please think fast. these are what nigerians want to know about, not OBAMA and dr ndi okereke. that is bullshit. i am as usual, capital G.C.

Author: dodanhank
Thu Aug 21 19:29:50 2008

Until Dr. Olakasimi, the former NIDO Director made a big issue about Prof. Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke feel good fund raising to drum up support for obama's Presidential candidacy this topic was never talked about.

My gut feeling is that this move by EFCC is a selective discrimination simply because Prof. Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke is Igbo. Had this initiative been taken by say a Yoruba or any other tribe, we would not be holding this conversation. Dr. Ola admitted that by both American and Nigeria laws, no law was broken but he simply hinged his argument on morality and ethics.

It is laughable that by showing support for Obama has attracted such a big hoopla when everyday our oil money is stolen and stashed away only we get is a probe. Please give me a break this whole thing is a hug-wash aimed to discredit this woman who has so far done a good job. But on the turn around, Prof. Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke probably deserves what she is getting because when you sleep with the devil you would be haunted because the devil has no conscience or feelings. She supported the third term and went off her to protect Baba OBJ. may be this is a pay back time. The EFCC has better thing to do than to waste the tax payer money to investigate an innocent Nigeria who was simply feeling good that finally an African American has a chance of becoming the leader of the free world. Please stop this mess and let the woman go.


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