Ex-finance minister Yuguda detained for collecting N450m Diezani bribe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained a former Minister of Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, over his alleged involvement in the $115m (N23bn) bribe which was distributed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.



The EFCC said in a statement that the ex-minister who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, allegedly diverted N450m out of the money.
The money, which was distributed through Fidelity Bank Plc, was said to have been used to bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission during the 2015 presidential election.

The statement read in part, “The EFCC has detained the former Minister finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, over his involvement in 23bn bribery poll. Ambassador Yuguda in his statement admitted collecting a total of N450m in his capacity as a senior executive of the PDP in his state.”

Yuguda had been arrested by the EFCC last year after he allegedly received suspicious payments from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), who has been embroiled in the arms deal scam.

Yuguda allegedly received N1.5bn from the former NSA’s office through an unnamed company, for unstated purpose.

He also allegedly received N1.275bn from Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general election.

Another N775m was also allegedly paid to him from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for unstated purpose.

All the monies were allegedly paid to him between December 2014 and May, 2015.