EFCC quizzes Soludo over alleged bribery

A source close to the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the former CBN governor was picked up from his residence in Wuse 2, Abuja at about 4.00 p.m.

An impeccable source within the commission said Soludo was being investigated over his alleged complicity in the bribery of CBN officials by an Australian currency mint company, Securency.

The source said Soludo was being grilled at the Operations Office of the commission at Wuse 2, Abuja, adding that he may be released on administrative bail if he co-operated with EFCC’s interrogators. It was learnt that scores of serving and former staff of CBN were also being quizzed on their alleged role in the scam.

An Australian newspaper, The Age which exposed the scam, had reported that Securency International, a company that manufactures polymer used in banknotes in 28 countries, paid kickbacks to secure polymer note printing contracts in some countries, including Nigeria. The Age claimed that N750 million was paid to bribe Nigerian officials.

Also, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Securency International was said to have paid millions of dollars into the offshore bank accounts of two British-based businessmen for onward transfer to some high ranking Nigerian government officials to secure the 2006 polymer printing contract.

Uwujaren confirmed that Soludo was arrested Thursday morning and he was in the custody of the commission.

“We have Soludo in our custody and it is part of an ongoing investigation over his involvement in the award of contract and printing of polymer banknotes when he was the Governor of the CBN.”

Uwujaren did not volunteer further detail on the arrest. However, unofficial sources said close to 12 other CBN officials are were also in the commission’s custody.

The source said Soludo and his alleged co-accomplices would be arraigned as soon as investigations were concluded by the commission.    “As soon as the commission concludes its ongoing investigations and we have enough evidence, Soludo and others will be charged to court to face prosecution,” he stated.

But Uwujaren refuted claims that Soludo arrest was connected with his political difference with the Presidency.

Soludo’s arrest was triggered by a petition written by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) in May 2012, calling on the commission to investigate a contract scam in the award of polymer banknotes printing.

According to the chairman of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA’s petition demanded the investigation and possible prosecution of servicing and former government officials, particularly CBN staffers indicted in the scandal which resulted from the printing of polymer naira notes during the tenure of Soludo at the CBN between 2006 and 2008.

The petition had demanded both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to pursue the investigation and prosecution as provided by laws establishing both commissions