Two Chinese nationals arrested for offering N100 million to economic crimes commission official
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has arrested two Chinese nationals, Meng Kun and Xu Koi, for allegedly offering N100 million as bribe to the commission’s zonal head, Abdullahi Lawal in Sokoto State.
Penpushing reports that, Head, Media and Publicity of the agency Dele Oyewale made this known in a statement, on Tuesday, adding that the suspects were arrested on Monday in Sokoto, with the cash as evidence.
The commission disclosed that the bribe was allegedly offered in a bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company, China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd, handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government between 2012 to 2019.
Penpushing furrther reports that, the statement said its zonal office had since commenced investigation into the construction company in connection with the execution of contracts awarded for the construction of township roads in Gummi, Bukkuyun, Anka and Nassarawa towns of Zamfara State.
The agency spokesman said similarly, an investigation was launched into the construction of 168 solar-powered boreholes in the 14 local government areas of the state, explaining that the investigation followed intelligence on alleged conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering against Zamfara State officials.
The commission said, wherein the construction company had reportedly received payments of over N41billion “but diverted about N16 billion which the commission has traced to some bureau de change operators”.
“Alarmed by the consistency and professionalism of investigation being conducted, the company reached out to Lawal with an offer of N100 million as bribe to “bury” the matter, the agency Head of media said.
“In a grand design to trap the corrupt officials, Lawal played along and on Monday, two representatives of the company, Meng Wei Kun and Xu Kuoi, offered him cash totaling N50 million in their office along Airport Road, Sokoto. The cash was offered as a first installment’.
“Investigation of the construction company was informed by an intelligence on alleged conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, official corruption, abuse of office, stealing and money laundering obtained against the Zamfara State government through inflated and uncompleted contracts awarded to the company.
“Investigations have so far revealed that China Zounghao Ltd has received payments of over N41 billion from the Zamfara State government, out of which about N16 billion, equivalent of over $53 million was allegedly diverted and traced to some bureau de change operators,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the suspects would soon be charged to court, but as at the time of filing this report the accused persons could not immediately reached for comments.
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