The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC)  is probing Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, Amb. Hassan Adamu, a former  Acting Governor of Taraba State, Sani Danladi Abubakar, and others  over their alleged sharing of about N1.150billion, out of the N23.29billion poll bribery funds allocated to their states.

The others are a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya Danlami,  a former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Mark Bako Useni, a former National Secretary of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Senator Sa’idu Umar Kumo from Gombe State and the Chairman, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Chief Joel Madaki.

Each of the three states received N450million from Fidelity Bank totaling N1.150billion.

Ikenya has refunded N2million. Useni paid back N1million.

The bribe which was facilitated by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was given to all the 36 state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

A top source in the EFCC said: “The former acting Governor of Taraba State, Senator Sani Danladi Abubakar (Taraba North) was the chair of the sharing committee of the N450million campaign slush fund for the re-election of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Other members are Senator Ikenya and Hon. Useni.”

EFCC’s investigation is said to have revealed the role played by the trio in the collection and sharing of the fund.

Ikenya and Useni allegedly signed and collected the fund on behalf of the state PDP before proceeding to the Government House to share it.

“When interrogated, the two former office holders claimed they distributed the money to the 16 local government areas of the state. They gave N140million(at N28m each) to five local government areas and N264million ( at N24m each) to the remaining local government areas,” said the source, who added.

“Useni admitted he collected Takum Local Government’s  N24m.

“They confessed to have personally benefited individually from the fund. The former minister admitted to have taken N4million. He presented a GTB draft of N2million and promised another draft for the same amount today. His co-suspect deposited a draft for N1million and the balance to be paid later.

The investigators are going after the chair of the sharing committee in order to recover his personal share of the slush fund.

“The EFCC has intensified its investigation of all gravy funds with the aim of recovering as much from the beneficiaries,” the source said.

On Gombe and Adamawa states, the source added: “Senator Kumo signed and collected N450million campaign fund for the re-election of former President Jonathan.

“He admitted that out of the said amount, he got only N2m which he promised to pay back.

The  Adamawa PDP chairman and Ambassador Adamu (Wakili Adamawa) allegedly signed and collected N450million campaign  fund for Adamawa State.

Madaki, in his statement reportedly, admitted that out of the said amount, it was only N5million that passed through his office, which he reportedlly promised to pay back.”