Daily Champion (Lagos)
Erasmus Alaneme
3 November 2009
Abuja — Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered about N172 billion non-performing loans from debtors of the banks recently sanctioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This is even as an ex-official of the anti-graft agency and son of a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Obinna Ogwuegbu and Ndubusi Nnoke, a Special Assistant to President of Customary Court of Appeal will soon be arraigned for allegedly attempting to dupe top management of the Customary Court of Appeal in Abuja of N10 million.
A reliable source in the commission confirmed yesterday that the efforts of the operatives of the anti-graft body in recovering loans from the debtors as published by CBN was paying off as some of them have started paying back.
It would be recalled that following the release of the names of the debtors of the banks by the CBN, the EFCC deployed its operatives to Lagos.
CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi aside sacking those that held sway at the affected the banks over the massive non-performing loans which contributed to their liquidity problems, injected N600 billion fresh funds into the banks to save them from going under.
Head of media and publicity of EFCC, Femi Babafemi confirmed that as at the latest update, Intercontinental Bank has received the most money having pooled in N59bn.
Babafemi gave a breakdown of the remaining figures as: "Bank PHB- N1.2bn, Afri bank- N33bn, Union Bank, N30bn; Oceanic Bank- N35bn, Spring Bank- N571m and Finbank- N10bn."
Also, Daily Champion gathered former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar may not have repaid his loan as a result of inconsistency in the financial record presented to him.
It was gathered that as at last week, the bank and staff of the former number two citizens were still working towards reconciliation of the account so as to enable payment be made.
Meanwhile, operatives of the EFCC have arrested Oguwuegbu also an ex-EFCC staff over an alleged attempt to dupe top management of the Customary Court of Appeal in Abuja of N10million.
Oguwuegbu who would soon be prosecuted alongside another suspect Ndubisi Nnoke claimed there was a petition against top staff of the court and demanded for the said sum as bribe to destroy their case file.
A source in the commission said Nnoke, a Special Assistant to the President of the Customary Court of Appeal met with the chief registrar to intimate him of the pending investigation against the management and arranged a point where the monies would be collected.
Operatives in a covert operation trailed the suspects who changed locations from the National Stadium to Top View Hotel in Wuse Zone 5 then Gubabi Hotel in Central Area and finally back to the second place listed.
The lawyers were arrested last Thursday and have remained in EFCC custody. Babfemi who confirmed the story, said: "They have been arrested and detained. They would soon be charged to court."
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