Former Adamawa Governor, Ngilari; former Minister, Hassan Adamu, grilled over N450m election money

Former Adamawa Governor, Ngilari; former Minister, Hassan Adamu, grilled over N450m election money
A former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, James Ngilari; and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Minister, Dr. Hassan Adamu, Thursday answered questions from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators at the commission’s zonal office in Gombe, Gombe State, on the use of N450 million sent to the State for the last presidential election.
The money came from $115 million said to have been paid by former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Maduekwe, to Fidelity Bank to finance the last elections.
On Wednesday, factional PDP National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, had also answered questions on his role in the same amount sent to Borno State.
Said an EFCC source: “The Commission quizzed Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Wakilin Adamawa at its zonal office in Gombe on the role he played in the collection and distribution of four hundred and fifty million Naira campaign fund for the re-election of former President Good luck Jonathan. A team of investigators handling the campaign slush fund interrogated the elder statesman. He arrived the office of the Commission at about 9.30 am, and was grilled for several hours before he was allowed to return home.
“Adamu was abroad when his name appeared as co-signatory to the collection of the share of Adamawa state from Fidelity bank. He admitted his involvement at that level but that the money was taken to the government house in a bullion by the officials of the bank.
“The Ambassador added that the chief of staff to the acting Governor, Mr. James Ngilari, Alhaji Hamman and the accountant to the government house, Mrs. Aisha Waziri counted the money and confirmed the figure. The duo became custodians of the fund based on the directive of their boss, the governor.
“Furthermore, he said he left at that point and did not know how the money was shared neither did he personally benefit from it. Ambassador Adamu had made good his promise to appear at the Commission whenever he was in the country to explain his role.
“Meanwhile, Ngilari, who also was at the Commission office, denied authorizing his former aides to take custody of the fund. As of the time of writing this report, a detention order had been signed and most likely, he would spend the night in EFCC custody.”