Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Roberts, has remained in custody over a $40million contract obtained from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to allegedly pacify militants in the Niger Delta.
It was learnt that Roberts, who was arrested alongside colleague Dakoru Atukpa, is the Managing Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited and One-Plus Holdings.
The anti-graft agency arrested Roberts and Dakoru on March 23 as part of the ongoing probe of 300 companies involved in phantom contracts at the ONSA.
It was gathered that as at Wednesday night, April 6, that the suspects, who could not meet their bail terms, were still with the EFCC.
A source in the commission said: “The suspects were arrested in respect of payment of $40million by ONSA for a contract which was tagged as purchase of tactical equipment for Special Forces.
“When they interacted with our investigators, they could not explain what the contract was meant for. They said they used the money to pacify militants in the Niger Delta.
“Even though we wanted to accept their claim, there is no documentary evidence to show how the $40m contract was awarded, how it was disbursed and the list of beneficiaries.
“The case is not about being a blood relation of a former President or not. Is he the only relation of the ex-President?
“We are looking into payments made by ONSA and $40miilion was advanced without any record of how the contract or how it was awarded or done.”
