€150m Probe: Obasanjo Library Officials Allegedly Benefited From Atiku’s Laundered Money (See How)

The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library has been raided by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law and the 150 million euros cash-for-poll bribe scandal.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft investigators went to the Library on August 8 to authenticate the claims by one of those under probe that he gave $140,000 (about N50 million) to one of the library officials.

Speaking further the source said: “Our operatives went to the library with some riot policemen in anticipation of possible resistance. But there was none.”We did our job lawfully without any inhibition. We are still investigating the case. We are screening some documents in our possession on the matter.”

However, It could not be confirmed whether any document was taken away by the operatives, but nobody was arrested.

The money was believed to have been spent to influence the 2019 election in which Atiku Abubakar was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

The source also revealed that  Atiku’s Son In Law Babalele gave about N50m ($140,000) to his childhood friend, Bashir Mohammed to deliver to an official at the Presidential Library in Abeokuta. The anti-graft agency is investigating why the money was taken to the Presidential Library.

“That between 05/02/2018 and 27/11/2018 €41,900,000 (forty one million, nine hundred thousand euro) which sums are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, was received by a firm linked to Babalele.

“That on February 20, 2019 Babalele called Bashir Mohammed his childhood friend and informed him that he will transfer N50million to him which should be converted to United States dollars.

“That Bashir converted the N50 million at the rate of 360 per dollar amounting to about $140,000

“That on the instruction of Babalele, Bashir took the money to Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, and delivered it to an official in cash.

“That the cash delivered is in excess of the amount authorized by the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended.

Bashir has reportedly admitted that he delivered the cash to the Presidential Library.

It was learnt that Bashir was taken by detectives to the Presidential Library.

Those interrogated including Babalele, Osagie and Mohammed, are on administrative bail pending the filing of a case against them.”