Nenadi Usman reportedly returns N23m to FG

Former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, has reportedly returned N23m to the Federal Government, as a result of her arrest relating to the ongoing investigation by the EFCC.

Usman was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for receiving N2.5bn worth of taxpayers money, which was shared to some party chieftains during the last general elections.

Punch Newspapers reports apart from returning the N23m, she had promised to return more funds.

“Nenadi Usman has been cooperating with us. In fact, she has returned N23m to the Federal Government.”

She said that everything she did was based on the directive of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

She also claimed that she was asked to set up a bank account during the election warm up.

She claimed also that all donations were made to Jonathan’s campaign through the said account – Joint Trust Dimensions Nigeria Limited while adding that it was through this account that funds were released to all campaign directors, zonal coordinators and other parties, groups as well as individuals who campaigned for the PDP.

Director of Publicity, Femi Fani-Kayode, was paid N840m through this account while the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Olu Falae, and former Oyo state governor, Rashidi Ladoja, were alleged to have received N100m each, through the same account, as well as others alleged to have received funds from Usman.

The EFCC said: “She told us that she did not know the funds belonged to the Federal Government.”

“However, we asked her why she didn’t verify and also why didn’t she set up an account bearing the name of the PDP. Why did she use her company account if not that she wanted to keep things secret.”