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Osinbajo’s aide collected N250m without executing contracts, EFCC investigator tells Salami Panel
Osinbajo’s aide collected N250m without executing contracts, EFCC investigator tells Salami Panel
AFTER RECEIVING N250 MILLION, DR. DONALD WOKOMA, A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT YEMI OSINBAJO, ALLEGEDLY FAILED TO EXECUTE SOME CONTRACTS AWARDED TO HIS FIRMS IN 2018.
THE ECONOMIC CONFIDENTIAL GATHERED THAT MR WOKOMA WAS A SIGNATORY TO THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF THE COMPANIES WHEN HE WAS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL, NEC.
A SEASONED INVESTIGATOR AT THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) EXPOSED THE DEAL WHILE TESTIFYING BEFORE THE JUSTICE ISA AYO SALAMI PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE PANEL ON THURSDAY.
THE JUSTICE AYO SALAMI PANEL IS A PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE EXAMINING ACTIVITIES OF EFCC UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF SUSPENDED ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE AGENCY IBRAHIM MAGU BETWEEN 2015 AND 2020.
THE ANTI-CORRUPTION OPERATIVE, WHOSE NAME IS WITHHELD FOR SECURITY REASON, ALLEGED THAT SEVERAL CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED WITHOUT EXECUTION AND PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO COMPANIES UNDER THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME.
THE OFFICER SAID THE CASE WAS ASSIGNED TO SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM SITTING IN THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, ONSA, AFTER AN INTELLIGENCE REPORT WAS RECEIVED ON THE ‘FRAUD’ WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES AT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME IN 2018.
BUT UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS REVEALED THAT DAMIJAY INTEGRATED SERVICES WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT WORTH ABOUT N98MILLION, AND A SIMILAR CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO ANOTHER COMPANY NAMED EAGLE TECHNOLOGY LTD, AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF N98M.
“IT WAS FURTHER REVEALED THAT AFTER THE PAYMENT, EAGLE TECH TRANSFERRED THE MONEY PAID TO IT TO DAMIJAY. THE TOTAL SUM OF N250M WAS THEN TRANSFERRED FROM DAMIJAY TO ELIXIR INVESTMENTS PARTNERS AS INVESTMENT.
“IN THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT DONALD WOKOMA, AN SA TO THE VICE PRESIDENT, WAS THE SOLE SIGNATORY TO THE ACCOUNT OF DAMIJAY AND HE, HIS WIFE AND SON WERE THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY,” THE OPERATIVE DISCLOSED.
HE THEN ADDED THAT: “WOKOMA WAS INVITED TO THE COMMISSION AND AFTER HIS INITIAL STATEMENT WAS RECORDED, THE CHAIRMAN WAS BRIEFED AND HE REQUESTED FOR A WRITTEN BRIEF ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF WOKOMA AND THAT HE NEEDED TO INFORM THE VICE PRESIDENT.
“HE LEFT FOR THE VILLA TO THE VP’S OFFICE AND UP UNTIL ABOUT 11 PM THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION FROM HIM.”
THE EFCC INVESTIGATOR TOLD THE PANEL THAT MR WOKOMA WAS DETAINED AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CHAIRMAN.
ACCORDING TO HIM, MR WOKOMA’S REGULAR AND DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS WERE RETAINED BUT WERE LATER RELEASED ON THE DIRECTIVES OF THE CHAIRMAN.
HE SAID: “IN THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CONTRACTS AWARDED TO DAMIJAY AND EAGLE TECH WERE NEVER EXECUTED AND THE RECEIPTS PROVIDED BY WOKOMA AS PROOF OF PURCHASE OF ITEMS WERE FOUND TO BE FALSE AS THE SAID TRADER WHOM WAS CLAIMED TO HAVE SOLD THE ITEMS WAS TRACED IN PORTHARCOURT AND HE STATED HE NEVER SOLD THE SAID ITEMS.
“THE 250M INVESTED BY WOKOMA AND TRACED TO ELIXIR INVEST WAS THEN PLACED ON HOLD. WOKOMA SUBSEQUENTLY, INSTITUTED A CIVIL SUIT FOR THE HOLD PLACED ON HIS FUND TO BE LIFTED AND THE COURT-ORDERED SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER 2018 THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A COURT ORDER, THE HOLD SHOULD BE LIFTED.
“HOWEVER, IN SAME NOVEMBER 2018, THE COMMISSION WAS GRANTED A FREEZING ORDER BY THE COURT ON THE FUNDS WHICH NULLIFIED THE INITIAL ORDER.”
THE OPERATIVE WHO IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE INCORRUPTIBLE INVESTIGATORS EFCC CAN BOAST OF ADDED THAT THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ENTIRE CASE WAS CONCLUDED AND FOUR SEPARATE CHARGES WERE PROFFERED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING BRIG. GEN. BOROH (RTD) AND HANAFI MORIKI; SGT. JOSHUA EBEMEIYEFA; DONALD WOKOMA & HIS COMPANY DAMIJAY; TOGETHER WITH PAUL OFANA SANTUS AND HIS COMPANIES.
ACCORDING TO THE EFCC PERSONNEL, THE FOUR CHARGES WERE THEN TAKEN TO THE CHAIRMAN. AFTER PERUSAL, THE CHAIRMAN DIRECTED THAT THE NAME OF DONALD WOKOMA BE REMOVED FROM THE CHARGE, AND ONLY HIS COMPANY BE CHARGED, WHILE ALL OTHER CHARGES BE FILED AS WELL.
“SHORTLY AFTER, SOME OF THE OFFICERS INVESTIGATING THE CASE WERE TRANSFERRED FOR BEING STUMBLING BLOCKS OF THE SOFT LANDING INTENDED TO BE GIVEN TO DONALD WOKOMA.
“IT WAS LATER GATHERED THAT THE CHAIRMAN DIRECTED THAT NO ONE SHOULD LOOK FOR DONALD OR ANY OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS SINCE IT WAS ONLY DAMIJAY THAT WAS CHARGED.”
THE OFFICER ADDED: “SUBSEQUENTLY, DONALD WOKOMA’S LAWYER, BAR VICTOR GIWA WROTE THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE FOR THE LIFTING OF THE RESTRICTION OF THE FUNDS AND UPON BEING SERVED WITH THE LETTER, THE CHAIRMAN DIRECTED THAT DONALD WOKOMA’S NAME BE RETURNED TO THE CHARGE.
“THE CHARGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED AND SERVED ON DONALD WOKOMA. BAR GIWA ALSO WROTE DIRECTLY TO THE CHAIRMAN REQUESTING AGAIN FOR THE RESTRICTION ON THE FUNDS TO BE LIFTED. THE ARRAIGNMENT OF DONALD WOKOMA IS, HOWEVER, PENDING AS THE MATTER IS SLATED FOR SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER 2020.”
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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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