*How ex-Skye Bank chair tried to influence report, blackmail
force
*Captain Hosa writes AGF, EFCC
Following allegations of corruption and manipulation against
billionaire businessman, Captain Idahosa Okunbo by a former Chairman of Skye Bank
Plc., Mr. Tunde Ayeni, the Nigeria Police Force, which investigated the matter,
have released their report, where they described the allegations as malicious,
baseless and false.
This is as allegations of blackmail against the police and
an attempt to influence the report have continued to trail Ayeni, as the police
report, being the latest twist to the matter, has vindicated the retired
commercial pilot.
That notwithstanding, Okunbo too has written, both to the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and
the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
Abdulrasheed Bawa, intimating them of the development and the need to
authenticate the report by acting on it.
According to the report, which generated from the office of
the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, “Upon the receipt of the
petition and in compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of
Police that, the matter under reference should be investigated, on the 7th January
2021, the suspect (Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo) volunteered a statement under
word of caution and denied all the allegations levelled against him and
presented all the documentary evidence to support his claims and transactions
that took place between him (Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo) and the complainant
(Dr Tunde Ayeni).
“All the documents submitted by the suspect (Captain Idahosa
Wells-Okunbo) were perused, scrutinised and forensically investigated and were
found to be genuine and they were all endorsed by the parties (Dr Tunde Ayeni
and Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo) to the transactions.”
According to the report, the police stated that during the
investigations, all the requisite documents were copied and distributed by the
parties to all stakeholders and relevant agencies, and thereafter invited Ayeni
for his statements.
In their findings, the Police said they established that
both men had been friends since 2003, which led to a lot of business
relationships, one of which was Ocean Marine Security Limited, which later
rebranded as Ocean Marine Solutions Limited.
Tracing the ownership structure of the company, the report
noted, “That Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, then, has the following
shareholders, Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo – 46%; Dr Tunde Ayeni – 35%; Garth
Dooley – 14%; Admiral Augustus Aikhomu originally has 5%, which was
subsequently re-acquired by Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo and Dr Tunde Ayeni,
who also became chairman and vice-chairman respectively.
“That the complainant, Dr Tunde Ayeni, voluntarily and
legally transferred his shares and that of his wife from Ocean Marine Solutions
Limited (OMS) and its subsidiaries to Capt Idahosa Wells-Okunbo in
consideration of the total sum of N2billion, which the complainant (Dr Tunde
Ayeni) acknowledged receipt of same and resigned his membership from the board
of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMS) and its subsidiaries.”
The report, therefore, concluded thus: “That the allegations
of stealing and criminal diversion of company funds as alleged by the
complainant, Dr Tunde Ayeni against the suspect, Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo
could not be established as there was documentary evidence provided by the
suspect - Captain Idahosa Wells-Okunbo, which clearly shows that Captain
Idahosa Okunbo, has lawfully acquired Dr Tunde Ayeni’s interest in Ocean Marine
Solutions Limited (OMS) for a valuable consideration of N2, 000, 000, 000 (Two
Billion Naira only).
“So, also, the allegation of criminal diversion of company
funds is baseless, malicious and false as it hasn’t been proven by the
complainant.”
The report has since been forwarded to the EFCC and the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, thus, foreclosing
Ayeni’s false allegations against Okunbo and his attempt to return to the
company through other means possible.
Meanwhile, sources within the police have alleged blackmail
and attempt to influence the report by Ayeni, saying sources within his camp
have threatened to go on a media onslaught in the bid to change the situation
in his favour.
“A close associate, who takes the side with true position,
hinted me of a damaging allegation in the making. The intention is to blackmail
the police over the report and further accuse Captain Hosa of influencing the
process. Please, note that figures will be alleged,” the police source hinted.
However, in his separate letters to the AGF and the EFCC,
Okunbo through his lawyer, Augustine Alegeh of Alegeh and Co., expressed the
appreciation of his client to Malami for intervening when Ayeni attempted to
duplicate the investigation by sending same petition to the police and the
EFCC.
“We respectfully request the Honourable Attorney General and
Minister of Justice to notify the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission of the outcome of the investigation by the officers of the Inspector
General of police so that the matter can be put to rest an d treated as
closed,” the letter stated.
In yet another letter to the EFCC chairman, Okunbo’s
lawyers, while reiterating the content of the letter they sent to Malami, also
emphasised to Bawa: “We trust you will now treat the matter as closed.”
Incidentally, the IG’s investigation report appears to have
confirmed and validated the EFCC report of 2019, which also stated that Ayeni
had actually sold his shares in OMSL.
According to the EFCC report with reference number
EFCC/EC/GC/31/2538, dated June 25, 2019 and signed by the Director of
Operations, Mohammed Umar Abba, “…Investigation was extended to Corporate
Affairs Commission, where it was discovered that Dr. Ayeni had on the 8th
August, 2018, actually sold his 35 million ordinary shares in Ocean Marine
Solutions Limited and 37.2 million ordinary shares in PPP Fluid Mechanics
Limited to Wells Property Development Company Limited, a subsidiary of Ocean
Marine Solutions Limited.
“Investigations carried out so far revealed that Dr. Ayeni
is no longer a director and shareholder of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited and
PPP Fluid Mechanics Limited as he has since sold his entire shares and resigned
his appointment as director and shareholder of the companies.
“Consequent upon the following, the Commission’s investigation
so far did not indict the Chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions and its subsidiary
companies, Capt. Idahosa Wells Okunbo on the alleged diversion of 29.5 billion
naira from the defunct Skye bank Plc., by Dr. Tunde Ayeni.”
Curiously, some weeks back, Ayeni, despite the EFCC report,
petitioned the EFCC again through his lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, and alleged
that he sold his shares at the OMS under duress while also accusing Okunbo of
stealing and criminally diverting company funds.
But, three months after the petition became public,
investigations carried out by the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit,
have absolved Okunbo of any wrongdoing.
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