Retired Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, a former Chief of Naval Staff; Brigadier General Ishaya Gamgum Bauka (Rtd); and Adam Imam Yusuf, a former Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State, are facing allegations of money laundering but have defied a court-issued arrest warrant.
On May 4, 2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for their arrest following charges brought against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The charges stem from an investigation initiated by a whistleblower’s report.
Despite this directive, the three retired officers have avoided arrest and failed to appear in court, raising concerns about their disregard for legal processes. The ICPC attributes their inability to detain the suspects to the accused parties’ deliberate evasion tactics.
Background of the Investigation
The investigation, which started on December 11, 2020, uncovered evidence of illicit financial dealings by the accused. The whistleblower’s petition revealed that Jibrin, Bauka, and Yusuf allegedly diverted public funds into companies they owned or controlled. These companies include Lahab Integrated & Multi-Services Ltd, Gate Coast Properties International Ltd, and Ummays Hummayd Energy Ltd.
Jibrin, who led the Navy from 2014 to 2015, faces 10 counts of money laundering. Bauka and Yusuf are charged with two counts each. The accused allegedly used their positions to amass wealth through fraudulent activities, including transferring funds through their companies.
Key Findings
Investigators discovered that Jibrin impersonated his wife, Lami Idum, to open accounts in her name. These accounts were used to funnel millions of naira tied to fraudulent activities. Yusuf reportedly used illicit funds to acquire luxury properties and vehicles, while Bauka allegedly acquired assets through similar means.
The ICPC also revealed documents showing Yusuf received large sums of money, totaling hundreds of millions of naira, which were transferred into accounts linked to Jibrin and used to purchase properties, including two in Guzape, Abuja.
Resistance to Arrest
Efforts to detain the suspects have been thwarted multiple times by their security teams. For instance, an attempt to arrest Jibrin at his Abuja residence ended in a standoff, with his armed guards preventing ICPC agents from entering.
The accused have been uncooperative. Jibrin, in a recent interview, accused the media of focusing on irrelevant matters and declined to address the charges. He also threatened a journalist investigating the case. Attempts to contact Bauka and Yusuf for comments were unsuccessful.
Implications
The refusal of these individuals to submit to lawful processes has cast doubt on the ability of law enforcement agencies to hold high-ranking officials accountable. Their use of security personnel to obstruct justice further complicates the ICPC’s efforts to bring them to trial.
Despite these challenges, the ICPC remains committed to ensuring the suspects face the charges. However, the trial remains stalled as the accused continue to evade arrest.
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Chronicles Reporters.