House Petitioned over Continued Detention of Jonathan’s Cousin by EFCC

In Damilola Oyedele

Family members of Mr. Azibaola Robert, said to be former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, have petitioned the House of Representatives concerning his prolonged detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), without formal charges brought against him in a Court of law.

Robert has been detained by the EFCC since March 23, 2016, allegedly for a $40 million contract which the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) awarded to  his firm, One Plus Holdings Limited, for surveillance and security of oil pipelines across the Niger Delta.

In the petition which was signed by one Faith Roberts, the family appealed to Speaker Yakubu Dogara to intervene in securing his release.

The family added that ONSA is currently indebted to the company to the tune of $4 million as final payment for the said surveillance/oil pipeline security contract.   

They allege that the EFCC wants Robert to implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan, his cousin, “as a ‘front’ or beneficiary of the surveillance/security contract; else, he would face the ‘Dasuki treatment’ and rot away in EFCC custody.”

The petition presented to the House by Hon. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers PDP),   reads in part: “Mr. Azibaola Robert is the Managing Director of ‘Kakatar Engineering and Construction Company Limited’, and its sister company, ‘One Plus Holdings Limited’…Preceding his arrest, however was a raid on his house by scores of heavily armed mobile Policemen who in the process subjected his wife and young Children to the most dehumanizing and traumatic ordeal.”

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