Over 300 companies, prominent individuals indicted in Nigeria over fake contracts
Over 300 companies and prominent individuals, serving and retired military officers included have been indicted in Nigeria for defrauding the country of millions of dollars in fake contracts, the presidency said on Thursday.
The contracts are linked to former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki, who served under former president Goodluck Jonathan from June 2012 until his sacking in July last year by current president Muhammadu Buhari.
Since taking office last May, Buhari has launched a crackdown on endemic graft with high profile arrests being made over the fictitious arms contracts to fight Boko Haram worth $2 billion.
A separate committee was set up to investigate other deals awarded by Dasuki, 60, between 2011 and 2015.
“Over seven billion naira ($5 million) has been recovered so far from the indicted companies and individuals,” the presidency said in a statement, adding that another 41 billion naira is due to be paid back soon.
“The committee further established that one of the indicted companies, Societe D’Equipment International was overpaid to the tune of 7.9 million euros and $7.09 million,” it said.
Dasuki is already facing charges for the possession of illegal weapons, as well as allegedly diverting millions of dollars meant for security to the then-ruling People’s Democratic Party to finance Jonathan’s bid for re-election, AFP reported.
