Former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State spent a few hours on Wednesday at the Lagos offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where he was questioned about his alleged conversion to his personal use of import duty waivers obtained from the Federal Government, according to online whistleblower, SarahaReporters
SaharaReporters reported that source at the EFCC said the alleged illegal conversion happened when Ogun State hosted a national sports festival while Daniel was governor.
“SaharaReporters had in 2007 revealed that the then governor was involved in a N500 million import waiver scam during his tenure as Ogun State governor.
“Our source said that Mr. Daniel obtained import waivers for Ogun State as part of preparations for the 15th National Sports Festival in November 2005. The governor then sold part of the waivers to Globe Motors, owned by Willie Anumudu, for N300 million. Then Governor Daniel later stated that Globe Motors had given the Ogun State government a “donation” of N300 million in cash and cars to host the games. After our 2007 report, the EFCC briefly arrested Mr. Anumudu, the Managing Director of Globe Motors,” it reported.
The online media stated that an investigator at the EFCC informed it that Daniel further abused a second import waiver which he secured for the importation of 44,000 metric tons of iron rods for the Ogun State government to build the “Gateway Games Village.”
“The Village was built to accommodate athletes attending the games. The controversial merchandize arrived after the games had ended in April 2006, and the governor converted the rods to his personal use, investigators said. Our EFCC source said it was not yet clear if the EFCC will file fresh charges against Mr. Daniel who is already undergoing trial for money laundering before a state High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital,” it added.
While confirming his invitation by the EFCC, the former Ogun State Governor absolved himself of any wrongdoing.
“However, since the Games ended and despite the audited report publicly rendered, the Games have been the subject of continuos probes and investigations as is all our other efforts in States administration, such that over 7years later I was invited to provide some clarifications yesterday by the EFCC. I honoured and provided answers to the best of my recollection as all the details of all that transpired are in the custody of the current State government. I was not aware of any scam whatsoever either on these transaction or any other transaction whatsoever during the 8 year tenure of my administration. This short summary are (sic) my initial comments to whatever insinuations that the public might have been fed about my visit to the EFCCs office yesterday,” he stated.
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