Why Goodluck Jonathan has to run – All the money stolen under his watch

Following fresh revelations that the NNPC failed to remit a whopping $3.8bn and N358.3bn to the Federal Government account in 2013, rumours that former president Goodluck Jonathan has fled the country should be true if it’s not.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative NEITI, Kayode Fayemi, while presenting the 2013 audit reports of the agency in Abuja.

This follows last week’s court order that the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Okonjo Iweala and the Federal Government should “provide information on the spending of the alleged missing N30 trillion which represents some accruable income to the Federal Government during the last four years of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

It is therefore not farfetched, the idea that former president, Goodluck Jonathan may have gone into temporary self exile in Cote d’Ivoire, following reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may arrest him on his arrival in Nigeria from his overseas tour on allegations of corruption and misappropriation of billions of dollars in the five years during which he was Head of State.

Here are some reasons in hard currency that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should remain in exile.

1. $3.8bn (N358.3bn) The NNPC failed to be remitted to the federation account, up to $3.8 billion in 2013 as revealed recently.
2. N30 trillion: Okonjo Iweala was last week asked to account for ‘missing’ N30 trillion naira
3. $40 million: A sum of $40 million was allegedly approved and released to Jonathan’s principal secretary, Hassan Tukur for the negotiated release of the 219 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram but the duo colluded and shared the money.
4. $20 billion: The former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly offered to return $250 million to the nation’s coffers to avoid prosecution but the presidency reportedly refused because the amount she was to refund was close to $20 billion.
5. N4.75 billion: Two sons of former Minister of State for Defense’s Ibrahim Babajide and Gbolahan Olatunde Obanikoro are under EFCC’s watch after N4.745 billion were traced to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara Limited, a company in which Obanikoro’s two sons has major interest. The funds were transferred to them from funds budgeted for procurement of weapons for the military.
6. N400 milion: Former PDP spokesperson, Olisah Metuh is accused of receiving N400 million from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and is currently behind bars as his trial continues.
7. N754.8 million: Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi is also facing charges bordering on fraud and forgery to the tune of N754.8 million.
8. $115 million The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had picked Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo for allegedly receiving $115 million in deposits to the bank from former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and allegedly helped to disburse money from this to electoral officials.
9. N840 million: The former Minister of Aviation and Campaign Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode remains in EFCC custody over the N840 million he allegedly received from then President Goodluck Jonathan a few days before the 2015 presidential election.
10. $20 million: Former Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, ACM Badeh was also accused of stealing $20m (£14m) from the air force and buying a mansion. He allegedly bought a mansion in Abuja with the funds along with a string of other properties. More than $1m in cash was also reportedly found at one of his homes.
11. $2.1 billion: The National Security Adviser to Goodluck Jonathan was found culpable in a $2.1 billion dollars theft case after the EFCC discovered he had stole and awarded phantom contracts to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets, and ammunition meant for the Nigeria’s military campaign against Boko Haram Islamist militants.
12. $40million: The EFCC is investigating the Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Robert, over an alleged fraud of $40million.

The list isn’t exhaustive and one could argue that even the EFCC doesn’t have an exact figure of the monies stolen or misappropriated under Jonathan’s watch. However, the words of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, should to be taken into account; that 55 Nigerians have stolen over N1.34 trillion from the country’s treasury from 2006 to 2013.

“Gentlemen, the situation is dire and the time to act is now. For example, between the period 2006 and 2013, just 55 people allegedly stole a total of 1.34 trillion Naira in Nigeria. That’s more than a quarter of last year’s national budget,” Lai Mohammed said.

So if Goodluck Jonathan is truly in exile right now, it is absolutely reasonable as he has about 1.34 trillion naira worth of reasons to run as far away as he can.

DanielFayemi for encomium.ng