Date Published: 09/13/09

Corruption: Aondoakaa plots brother's escape from Nigeria

Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney general

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa is alleged to be secretly plotting the escape of his brother, Ordoo Aondoakaa whom he has been using to broker deals with Nigerian indicted officials, who were shielded from the full weight of the law following accusation of corruption and fraud.

Ordoo Aondoakaa is alleged to have received over N500 Million in bribes on behalf of his Justice Minister brother.

And an ironic twist is unfolding, that the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri at a private meeting was the one who purpotedly snitched that the Minister must ensure a successful escape for his conniving brother, Ordoo.

Sources told pointblanknews.com that a cabinet reshuffle looms in the Yar’ Ardua administration and that the change would somehow lead to the removal of Aondoakaa, who already has become so much criticized for undermining the crusade against corruption and condoning and indulging corrupt officials.

Aondoakaa, a notoriously corrupt Attorney General and Minister of Justice Nigeria has ever had was recently asked by Global Steel Holdings to either deliver or refund the $6 million dollar bribe he received. He was allegedly paid the bribe money at the 450-room Park Lane Hilton, London, during a meeting with Sunil Kumar Manwati, President, Business Development of Global Steel Holdings. He has already delivered on the deal as the Federal Government has since reversed the revocation of the concession on Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The explanation is that Aondoakaa could be stripped of his position in government and be prosecuted for various atrocities which he allegedly perpetuated using his brother as a front.

Mrs. Farida Waziri was said to have alerted the Minister to make good his brother’s escape because he could be used to stand as prosecution  witness as exhibit whenever charges are brought against Aondoakaa.

Specifically, sources told pointblanknews.com that Ordoo allegedly assisted his Minister elder brother to collect bribes from individuals wanting to influence and short – circuit justice.

The instance of former Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo is often cited.  Soludo allegedly faced investigation and eventual indictment concerning his alleged involvement in fraud concerning the African Financial Corporation deal of about $480m.

The amount which translates to about N58.7 billion investment in the AFC was subject of a five-man probe panel inaugurated by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) and headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police and Director of Operations, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Tunde Ogunsakin in 2008.

Till date, the recommendations of the Ogunsakin probe panel for the prosecution of Soludo and others involved in the AFC scandal have not been implemented.

The Attorney-General ensured that he walked through the shadow of investigation with ease.  Sources said he was amply rewarded by Soludo.  Soludo, Aondoakaa and Ordoo allegedly met in the house of Benue State Governor, Hon. Gabriel Suswan, in Garki, and arrangement was concluded on the terms that would lead to the acquittal of Soludo.  After their meeting, the mandate was allegedly given to Ordoo to get their settlement money totaling about fifty million naira.

Three members of the AFC board namely: Cecilia Ibru, Oceanic Bank; Bartholomew Ebong, Union Bank; Erastus Akingbola, Intercontinental Bank have been fired on offences unrelated to the AFC investigation.

It is just one of the instances during which Ordoo got something on behalf of his brother, who has always been suspected of corrupt practices.

Ordoo allegedly got other money and always gets well rewarded.  He uses the proceeds to invest in properties in Abuja and Makurdi, Benue State.