Well-Wishers Gave Me Seized N3bn – Yakubu

Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, on Tuesday said the about N3 billion ($9,772,800 and £74,000) recently recovered from his Kaduna home by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was part of gifts he got from “well-wishers” during ceremonies.

Yakubu, who failed to name any of the ceremonies, for which the supposed “gifts” were given and those behind them, said he got the gifts because of the goodwill he enjoyed among friends.

According to The Nation, the ex-NNPC boss, who is now in the EFCC custody, made the claim in a court document filed on his behalf before the Federal High Court, Abuja, by one of his lawyers, Dolapo Kehinde.

He denied EFCC’s claim that the recovered funds were proceeds of crime, which he failed to declare as part of his assets.

The affidavit was in response to the counter affidavit filed by the EFCC against Yakubu’s N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit pending before the court.

Kehinde said:

“In specific reply thereto, the applicant (Yakubu) states that the monies in respect of which the applicant is being held by the respondents are ‘gifts and goodwill by well-wishers and friends’ given to him ‘during celebrations and ceremonies’ and not proceeds of crime’ as alleged.’

“Furthermore, I know that there is no investigation or ‘finding’ whatsoever by the first respondent (EFCC) that has proven contrary.”

Kehinde said Yakubu did not receive the money as a public officer, but saved it for a period of five years.

He added:

“The applicant (Yakubu) denies paragraphs 10 and 11 of the first respondent’s (EFCC’s) counter-affidavit.

“In reply thereto, the applicant states that the monies concerned were not given to him as a public servant or while he was a servant.

“The applicant humbly relies on Exhibit B hereof where he is quoted as saying: ‘These were periodic savings for over five years.

“The applicant (Yakubu) did not breach any provisions of the Independent Practices and other Related Offences Act or indeed any law.”