Panel Recovers N2.1b Illegally Kept in Heritage Bank

By Dipo Olowookere

About N2.1 billion alleged to have been kept illegally in Heritage Bank has now been recovered by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).

Chairman of the panel, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, informed President Muhammadu Buhari recently that his panel also recovered some other items.

According to him, “The panel had also recovered N533 million and land worth N1.5 billion, all from the ‘previous management’ of NEXIM Bank.

“The recovered funds and property had since been returned to the bank. The panel had also recovered and returned to the National Theatre, the sum of N24 million which was allegedly diverted by some directors of the agency.”

Mr Obono-Obla further said, “Also recovered were two hectares of land in Abuja valued at over N2 billion, belonging to the National Council of Arts and Culture. The panel also recovered and returned a part of Agura Hotel belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The recovered part of the hotel had been illegally “annexed by some so-called powerful persons with untouchable connections for over 20 years.”

“Other recoveries by the SPIP are 19 official Sports Utility Vehicles allegedly made away with by former Commissioners of the National Population Commission after their tenures in office. The panel had charged a former Director in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to court for failure to declare his assets.

“The assets include houses in upscale areas of Abuja, a quarry and a farm within the Federal Capital Territory, for which a court has granted an interim forfeiture order. The SPIP is also investigating some members of the National Assembly and former governors for a range of alleged offences.

“These include illegal purchase of designated official residences for principal officers of the National Assembly excluded from the monetisation policy at giveaway prices. Others are purchase of several property worth hundreds of millions in various currencies, and flagrant abuse of office thus causing financial adversity to the nation,” he said.

“The SPIP is partnering with the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary to ensure that some public officers perceived to have looted public funds and illegally acquired assets both in Nigeria and the UK were prevented from entering that country. The panel is beaming its searchlight on several companies for a wide range of alleged offences,” Mr Obono-Obla said.