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EFCC Foils Plot to Steal Seized $2.1m NHIS Cash

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<b>LAGOS, NIGERIA - Two persons have made separate attempts to claim the $2.1m (about ₦418million) cash seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).</b></div>
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The NDLEA had on July 3 intercepted the cash which was being conveyed by a bureau de change operator, Mr. Ibiteye John Bamidele.</div>
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The anti-narcotics agency had suspected the bureau de change operator of laundering the money.</div>
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Following his confession that he was on money laundering errand allegedly for a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, the NDLEA had on July 8 handed over the suspect and the cash to the EFCC.</div>
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Investigations by <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/efcc-foils-plot-to-steal-seized-2-1m-nhis-cash/">SUNDAY PUNCH</a> on Saturday reveal that two different persons have showed up at the Lagos office of the EFCC to claim the cash.</div>
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<i>Punch </i>correspondent learnt that one of the impostors, a man, who showed up to claim ownership of the money, later confessed to EFCC operatives that he was hired by some persons he didn't name to retrieve the money from the commission.</div>
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His claim was said to have been punctured by the EFCC team and he was subsequently arrested.</div>
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Similarly, a lady was also said to have appeared at the Lagos office of the EFCC, claiming that she was the one that gave Bamidele the money.</div>
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The lady was said to have made repeated calls to the supposed owner of the money who failed to fulfil his promise that he would meet her at the EFCC office.</div>
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When she realised that her partner had failed her with the refusal to appear at the commission, she was also said to have pleaded for mercy especially when the operatives confronted her with facts from Bamidele.</div>
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A top officer of the EFCC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: </div>
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Another thing you must know about this drama is that the commission has foiled some attempts to retrieve the money. </blockquote>
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From the time the case was handed over to the commission on July 8, 2015 to date, two people have come forward to claim the money. </blockquote>
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A few days after the money was handed over to the EFCC, a man came to the office to claim the money but when he was grilled, he contradicted himself. In fact, he said he was hired by some persons to claim and retrieve the money from the commission. </blockquote>
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Apart from the man, another woman showed up the following day to claim that she was the one who gave Bamidele the money. </blockquote>
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According to her claim, the money was proceeds of an investment which was liquidated with a bank and was intended to be used to purchase a property for the construction of a cardiac centre. </blockquote>
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However, her claim fell through when operatives confronted her. The bureau de change operator who was caught with the money did not mention her name. Then she realised that she wasn't going anywhere with her lies, she started pleading for mercy.</blockquote>
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EFCC Foils Plot to Steal Seized $2.1m NHIS Cash

LAGOS, NIGERIA - Two persons have made separate attempts to claim the $2.1m (about ₦418million) cash seized by the National Drug Law En...

$2.1 Million Seized Cash: Ex-NHIS Boss Surrenders To EFCC

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<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, has surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation on the alleged seizure of $2.1million cash.</b></div>
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The EFCC had threatened to declare him wanted after efforts to locate him both in Lagos and Abuja proved abortive.</div>
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Thomas had denied ownership of the said cash and claimed yesterday that he was never on the run as reported by the media.</div>
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The EFCC is however continuing with its investigation of the matter and may invite a former Minister of Health for questioning on how NHIS paid ₦990million for a plot of land estimated at ₦350million, while Thomas was in office.</div>
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Thomas reportedly arrived Abuja on Thursday night and reported at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja early Friday.</div>
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He was said to have been grilled for several hours by the agency after which his media aide, Mr. Sola Adeyemi, issued a statement describing him as "a law-abiding person, a true professional and a man of his words."</div>
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He said: </div>
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Today (Friday), we were at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja in reaction to media reports that Dr. Thomas was wanted by the anti-graft agency in connection with a $2.1million cash seizure, where my boss made an official statement on the allegation of money laundering. </blockquote>
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This shows that he was never on the run, and he would never do anything against the law of the land. He has gone to answer the EFCC call. So we believe my boss’ visit will put to rest all these allegations and help the anti-graft agency in their further investigation of the matter. Therefore, until the investigation is concluded, we would not speak on this matter.</blockquote>
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Adeyemi appealed to the media to "maintain a high level of professionalism in the discharge of your duties in order that the anti-graft agency can focus on a thorough investigation on the various allegations."</div>
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According to <b><i>The Nation,</i></b> a reliable source in the commission said the former Executive Secretary of NHIS voluntarily came to the EFCC office for interrogation on the seized cash.</div>
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"We have interacted with him and we asked him to make statement accordingly on what he knew about the cash," the source said.</div>
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"We also grilled him on the relationship between him and the Bureau de Change operator, Ibiteye John Bamidele, who was <a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2015/07/man-nabbed-at-lagos-airport-with-fake.html">arrested with the money by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency </a>(NDLEA).</div>
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"We are proceeding with the next stage to investigate issues highlighted from the submissions of the two people. There are other clues we are also considering too.</div>
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"The ex-NHIS is on administrative bail and he has given assurance that he would report to the EFCC anytime he is needed."</div>
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$2.1 Million Seized Cash: Ex-NHIS Boss Surrenders To EFCC

ABUJA, NIGERIA - A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, has surrendered to th...

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EFCC Foils Plot to Steal Seized $2.1m NHIS Cash

$2.1 Million Seized Cash: Ex-NHIS Boss Surrenders To EFCC

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