This money was collected directly from a federal government ministry, not even the NSA's office.
The EFCC is battling to recover the cash. It was learnt that some of the beneficiaries ran to Jonathan but he confessed that he cannot bail out any minister or public officer involved in the deal.
The Nation learnt that ex-Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, had interacted with EFCC operatives in the last few weeks before the anti-graft agency blew open the fraud.
There was a sharp disagreement among the beneficiaries of the largesse on how to refund the cash, sources told The Nation.
Some members of the defunct Goodluck Campaign Committee of the PDP were shocked that such a huge amount was collected under the table by just a few directors.
They have asked the beneficiaries to bear the consequences of diversion of public funds.
Some members of the committee have also threatened to spill the bean on other public funds made available which were diverted by some stalwarts of the party.
But the real issue was on how to refund the N3.145billion to the EFCC.
While some claimed that they expended the money on Jonathan’s re-election campaign, others were running round to source for the funds from some PDP chieftains and former members of the Federal Executive Council to cover up their track.
But there was no breakthrough for some of the beneficiaries last night.
A top source said: “There is confusion in Jonathan’s camp. Many top members of the campaign committee were dazed that such huge cash was shared without any general information.
“Some of them have volunteered to testify against some of the beneficiaries if the EFCC digs deeper. They have been threatening to expose other dirty deals.
“Also, ex-President Jonathan has stayed away from the matter. One of the beneficiaries went to him for a bailout but the former leader said he will ‘not assist anybody but they should go and return whatever was given to them'.
“The beneficiary was said to have diverted N500million out of the N2billion, which he was to remit to the committee. He only gave out N1.5billion.
“The case of some public officers involved in the deal was worse because the former President has asked everyone to bear his or her own cross.
“As it is now, those given the cash will have to look for ways to refund it.”
A member of the Campaign Committee opened up:
“We are not united on this N3.145billion. Some of us were disappointed that they got money without telling us. Let them go and face the music.”
EFCC uncovered how N3.145b was paid into the accounts of six PDP chieftains and the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the build-up to the last presidential elections.
The beneficiaries are:
EFCC uncovered how N3.145b was paid into the accounts of six PDP chieftains and the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the build-up to the last presidential elections.
The beneficiaries are:
Femi Fani-Kayode (N840m); Chief Olu Falae (N100m); Mrs. Usman (N36.9m);
Chief Achike Udenwa and Mrs. Viola Onwuliri (N350m) and Okey Ezenwa (N100m).
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