Minister’s N2bn Jets Expenses: EFCC Gets Fresh Petition

A non-governmental organisation, the Save Democracy Vanguard (SDV), has challenged a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a body called Crusaders for Good Governance (CGG) which alleged that an unnamed serving minister had in the last two years spent over N2 billion on private jets with which the said minister attends private and official assignments.

EFCC
In a counter-petition to the EFCC, endorsed by SDV's national secretary, Prof Shehu Musa, and obtained by MediaNigeria yesterday, the body alleged that Crusaders for Good Governance was a front for another unnamed minister who was eyeing another juicy ministry.

The SDV further charged the EFCC to carefully investigate the profile and background of CGG and expose them for plotting to cause friction in President Goodluck Jonathan's cabinet.

The petition, addressed to the chairman of EFCC, reads in part: "As the foremost anti-corruption arm of President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda, we urge you to move swiftly to unravel the activities of the shadowy group going by the name of Crusaders for Good Governance before they create contrived disaffection in the president's cabinet."

Further detailing its position, the SDV said: "Our own investigations clearly show that the allegation in the CGG's petition to you are contrived and provides your agency with a specific handle to investigate both the alleging group and the substance of their allegation."

MediaNigeria recalls that the CGG, in the petition to EFCC and endorsed by its national leader,  Okechukwu Obiorah Nnamdi, accused an unnamed minister of maintaining a private jet at the cost of $500,000 per month at a private hanger in Lagos.

According to Prof Musa, "the minister serving in another strategic ministry is clearly eyeing another prominent ministry, often seen as a very juicy brief. But this minister is getting key priorities wrong in this particular connection."