Embattled publisher and Editor-in-Chief of ThisDay Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, finally showed up at the Abuja headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday to answer questions over his involvement in the $2.1 billion arms procurement funds.
The Commission was reportedly planning to declare Mr Obaigbena wanted over his alleged prominent role in the messy diversion and sharing of the arms fund through the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Obaigbena who had earlier admitted receiving N670million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in the wake of last year general elections, however, claimed in an open letter to the EFCC that he received N550million from the former NSA as compensation for Boko Haram’s attacks on his newspaper and N120million on behalf of 12 members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) for the disruption of their operations by security agents.
The disclosure of names of the newspapers that benefitted from the largesse has made some to return the N9million given for the loss suffered in the wake of impounding some newspapers by the military.
It remains unknown if Obaigbena, who arrived at the EFCC headquarters about 10am, was still allowed to go or detained for further questioning. And EFCC is yet to make official statement on their latest prize.
Obaigbena, who was abroad when his name was mentioned in connection with the alleged diversion of monies meant to purchase arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, returned to the country last week, ostensibly to avoid being declared wanted by the anti-graft agency.
By Olisemeka Obeche