Reliable sources throughout the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have confirmed the arrest and detention of Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a outstanding businessman and shut affiliate of Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). Haske, who can also be the son-in-law of opposition chief Atiku Abubakar, is underneath investigation for alleged cash laundering, official corruption, and fraud.
The EFCC’s investigation focuses on allegations of large-scale laundering of illicit funds by way of advanced {financial} buildings. Haske can also be accused of misusing public workplace and sources throughout a number of transactions, and of involvement in fraudulent actions linked to each authentic and shell aviation corporations used within the leasing and operation of personal jets.
Preliminary findings point out that non-public jet flights and vital money actions had been allegedly used to facilitate the illicit circulate of funds. Investigators are additionally probing the potential exploitation of aviation contracts awarded by way of NNPC EnServe Ltd, underneath the corporate’s Upstream Directorate. A community of shell corporations is believed to have been established to hide the identities of the final word beneficiaries.
The investigation has reportedly implicated Bashir Bayo Ojulari and raised questions on potential hyperlinks to Atiku Abubakar. According to insiders, the EFCC stays dedicated to pursuing the case diligently, no matter political affiliations or affect.
As of press time, Abdullahi Bashir Haske stays in EFCC custody. Efforts to acquire a response from the GCEO of NNPCL had been unsuccessful. Calls made to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had been additionally unanswered and unreturned.
