N241m Forfeiture Order: OSSAP-SDGs Explains How It Uncovered Fraud Syndicate

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, OSSAP-SDGs, has revealed how a syndicate involved in the diversion of funds in the accounting department of the Office was busted in 2019.

A source in the Office said this while reacting to an order of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ordering interim forfeiture of N241m and property in Utako District, Cadastral Zone, FCT, Abuja linked to a staff seconded from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation seconded to OSSAP-SDGs to the Federal Government on Friday.

The Court had ordered the interim forfeiture of the property and the funds following application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC they are reasonably suspected to be proceed of unlawful activity diverted from the Federal Government by the affected staff.

However, a source in OSSAP- SDGs told The Nation the staff involved has been redeployed back to his mother agency since 2019.

“He is no longer a staff in OSSAP-SDGs. He was redeployed following suspicion of a breach of the financial safeguards by a syndicate in their department,” said the source.

The source added the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire had consequently initiated measures to ensure investigations of the breach by the necessary authorities.

“Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire had consequently directed the then Secretary of Programmes, OSSAP-SDGs, to ensure thorough investigations of the breach by the necessary authorities.

“She was not interested in any cover-up and will not allow ongoing activities to scale up efforts to achieve SDGs in Nigeria which are already being commended to be derailed.

“The prosecution of the case is at the preliminary stage and we will allow EFCC and the courts to do their jobs.

“However, OSSAP-SDGs will continue to ensure compliance with all necessary financial rules in its activities and cooperate with relevant authorities in line with the anti-corruption stance of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,” the source said.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the interim forfeiture order on Friday sequel to an ex-parte application filed and argued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

Oyedepo told the judge that the N241m was warehoused in two banks in the sums of N65million, N61million, N50million and N65million.

The EFCC said its intelligence showed that the Abuja property was purchased with funds furtively diverted while Mr Abdulsalam Bawa was a Principal Accountant.

The EFCC claimed that Bawa was its key suspect, adding that the diversion was perpetrated in grand conspiracy with some SDG staff.

It also linked three firms, Kouchdim Unity Nigeria Ltd and Lankass Global Ventures, to the diversion.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the suit marked FHC/L/CS/90/2021 till September 6, 2021 for final forfeiture proceedings.