The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a
massive investigation into money laundering scam involving eight
officials of two Abuja-based Chinese firms – Sanju Sunny Nigeria Ltd and
China Railway Engineering Nigeria Ltd – who dropped the names of the
First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and some state governors in the
country to siphon money into their country of origin in China.
LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported yesterday the ingenious money laundering scam where some errant officials of the two firms claimed to have bribed certain government officials with millions of local and foreign currencies whereas the said money were laundered to China.
The eight officials of the two firms (some of who are now at large) prepared cash vouchers for false returns to their parent companies in China between 2010 and 2013. The suspects are Geng Xiancheng, Cheng Qian, Tian Hui, Liu Zuzhi(at large), Ms Tian Xue (at large), Tian Wei (at large) Qin Fuhua (at large) and Li Pengtang (at large).
A top official of the anti-graft agency, who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of matter, told LEADERSHIP last night that: “I can authoritatively tell you that operatives of the commission have begun massive investigation into the matter. I can also tell you that certain arrests were made while some of the suspects are at large.
“Some of the suspects have made useful statements to the commission. I can also tell you that we are about to conclude into the matter. As soon as investigation is concluded, we are going to charge them to court for corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.
“We are ready to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion as we believe that some of these foreign firms have been doing this kind of racket in order to tarnish the image of the government. How can you claim to bribe government officials here while the same bribe money is wired to your country? We are ready to put end to this,” he said.
Recall that LEADERSHIP investigation had revealed that the errant officials of the two firms demanded millions of dollars and naira to bribe federal and state officials, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials and agencies to facilitate certain projects in Nigeria.
The modus operandi of these firms’ officials are novel. Apparently taking advantage of the reputation of Nigeria as country mired in widespread corruption, these officials would demand certain amount of money and a voucher would be prepared for the alleged non-existing beneficiaries, but the said amount would be wired to the personal accounts of some of these officials in India. They would then record the amounts in the firms’ account books as funds used to bribe certain government officials to facilitate phantom projects.
For instance, the bank record of Sanju Sunny Nigeria Ltd showed that $50,000 was purportedly used in bribing certain state officials from the South West to enable the state governor sign a bogus project, but the said $50, 000 was actually wired to the personal account of Li Pengtang (now at large) in China on August 27, 2103.
Documents sighted by LEADERSHIP further showed that the officials of the firms claimed that substantial millions of dollars and naira were purportedly used to bribe the First Lady, her personal assistant, governors from the South West, South East, South South, North East, North Central and North West.
The amounts recorded as bribes to elected governors and the First Lady are not only ridiculous but incredible. For example, a voucher claimed that $20,000 was given to a state governor in the South West to facilitate a project in the state while another voucher purportedly recorded that N150, 000 was paid for a governor from the North East as his travelling and accommodation expenses.
http://leadership.ng/news/401491/money-laundering-efcc-begins-investigation-2-chinese-firms-scam-first-lady-govs
LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported yesterday the ingenious money laundering scam where some errant officials of the two firms claimed to have bribed certain government officials with millions of local and foreign currencies whereas the said money were laundered to China.
The eight officials of the two firms (some of who are now at large) prepared cash vouchers for false returns to their parent companies in China between 2010 and 2013. The suspects are Geng Xiancheng, Cheng Qian, Tian Hui, Liu Zuzhi(at large), Ms Tian Xue (at large), Tian Wei (at large) Qin Fuhua (at large) and Li Pengtang (at large).
A top official of the anti-graft agency, who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of matter, told LEADERSHIP last night that: “I can authoritatively tell you that operatives of the commission have begun massive investigation into the matter. I can also tell you that certain arrests were made while some of the suspects are at large.
“Some of the suspects have made useful statements to the commission. I can also tell you that we are about to conclude into the matter. As soon as investigation is concluded, we are going to charge them to court for corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.
“We are ready to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion as we believe that some of these foreign firms have been doing this kind of racket in order to tarnish the image of the government. How can you claim to bribe government officials here while the same bribe money is wired to your country? We are ready to put end to this,” he said.
Recall that LEADERSHIP investigation had revealed that the errant officials of the two firms demanded millions of dollars and naira to bribe federal and state officials, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials and agencies to facilitate certain projects in Nigeria.
The modus operandi of these firms’ officials are novel. Apparently taking advantage of the reputation of Nigeria as country mired in widespread corruption, these officials would demand certain amount of money and a voucher would be prepared for the alleged non-existing beneficiaries, but the said amount would be wired to the personal accounts of some of these officials in India. They would then record the amounts in the firms’ account books as funds used to bribe certain government officials to facilitate phantom projects.
For instance, the bank record of Sanju Sunny Nigeria Ltd showed that $50,000 was purportedly used in bribing certain state officials from the South West to enable the state governor sign a bogus project, but the said $50, 000 was actually wired to the personal account of Li Pengtang (now at large) in China on August 27, 2103.
Documents sighted by LEADERSHIP further showed that the officials of the firms claimed that substantial millions of dollars and naira were purportedly used to bribe the First Lady, her personal assistant, governors from the South West, South East, South South, North East, North Central and North West.
The amounts recorded as bribes to elected governors and the First Lady are not only ridiculous but incredible. For example, a voucher claimed that $20,000 was given to a state governor in the South West to facilitate a project in the state while another voucher purportedly recorded that N150, 000 was paid for a governor from the North East as his travelling and accommodation expenses.
http://leadership.ng/news/401491/money-laundering-efcc-begins-investigation-2-chinese-firms-scam-first-lady-govs
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