The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has
declared billionaire businessman and Managing Director of Aiteo Group, Mr.
Benedict Peters, wanted for his alleged role in the $115m (N23bn) bribe given
to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission by a former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to
the 2015 election.
The EFCC said in an official gazette signed by
its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that Peters was wanted for criminal
conspiracy, diversion of funds and money laundering.
The notice read in part, “Dark-complexioned
Peters is wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy , diversion
of funds and money laundering. He hails from Abakaliki Local Government Area of
Ebonyi State. His last known address is 8B Agodogba Avenue, Parkview Estate,
Ikoyi, Lagos.”
Peters is alleged to have given Diezani about $60m during the build-up to the
2015 presidential election.
The EFCC had alleged that
the MD of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, helped Diezani convert $115m
to N23bn after which it was disbursed to INEC officials.
Some of the money was
said to have emanated from some oil companies including Northern Belt Gas
Company Limited which allegedly gave $60m to Fidelity Bank on behalf of
Diezani.
An EFCC source told our
correspondent that Peters was the person behind Northern Belt Gas Company
Limited.
The source said, “We have
launched investigations into the companies that gave Diezani money in form of
kickbacks. About $60m came from Northern Belt Gas Company Limited. We have not
been able to ascertain the directors of the company. However, we found out that
Mr. Benedict Peters is the sole signatory to the account at Fidelity Bank.
“All attempts to get him
have proved abortive. We currently do not know where he is and he is hardly
ever in one place because he has a private jet.”
The oil magnate, who owns
oil facilities in several countries, is said to own tank farms in Lagos and
Port Harcourt. Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Peters acquired an
85-per cent stake in block OML 29 from Shell Gas Company for $2.56bn. OML 29
potentially holds up to 2.2 billion barrels of oil and about 300 million
standard cubic feet of gas.
He was also alleged to
have taken part in the controversial crude oil swap deal involving the exchange
of crude oil for refined petroleum products in which the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation gave out 445,000 barrels of crude per day to nine
companies through the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the
NNPC.
However, Peters had in an
advertorial in Sunday PUNCH of May 8, 2016, denied the allegations
levelled against him.
The statement read in
part, “In order to put the facts clearly and correctly in the public domain,
both AIETO Group and Mr. Peter would like to state categorically that Mr.
Peters has not been officially invited by the EFCC on this matter.
“As a law-abiding citizen
and a significant participant in Nigeria’s key oil and gas sector and an accomplished
global businessman with significant interests in different parts of the world,
Mr. Benedict Peters will upon receipt of an official invitation from the EFCC,
cooperate with such relevant authorities.
“Mr. Peters who is
currently out of the country will certainly attend to an invitation from the
EFCC upon return to Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the anti-graft
agency has also declared one Mr. Johnson Salako wanted for allegedly defrauding
the Bank of Industry of N1.424bn
Punch
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