By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Business and data tracking desk)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly seized a massive multi-million naira property and cash worth over N200 million from Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Salihu Atawodi,(retired), a former head of Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS), and erstwhile governorship aspirant in Kogi State.
This development followed an interim forfeiture order secured by the EFCC Thursday in Abuja. Justice Anwuli Chikere of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, reportedly ordered an interim forfeiture of $228,428.16( Two Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Eight US Dollars, Sixteen Cents) and N120, 546,042.02( One Hundred and Twenty Million, Five Hundred and Forty Six and Forty Two Naira, Two Kobo), including a property located at Plot No. 3004 Cadastral Zone E05, Aviation Village, District Abuja recovered by the EFCC.
The property and various sums were said to have been recovered by the EFCC from retired Air Vice Marshal Atawodi, Atawodi Winnie and Vector Integrated Services Ltd.
According to the EFCC “the property and monies were traced to AVM Salu Atawodi, Atawodi Winnie and Vector Integrated Services Ltd in an application brought by the Commission, seeking an interim forfeiture order of the sum and the property recovered by the Commission and said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
Justice Chidere gave the order following an exparte application filed by the EFCC, pursuant to section 44 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Recall that The New Diplomat had reported how the EFCC allegedly tracked leads reportedly linking retired Air Vice Marshal Atawodi, a former head of Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS), and erstwhile governorship aspirant in Kogi State to a web of alleged suspicious transactions.
Sources had confided in The New Diplomat that a curious sum of about N1, 475,144,199.15 was said to have been withdrawn from PICOMSS account, and allegedly allocated for lobbying some members of the House of Representatives purportedly to convert PICOMSS into a Maritime Security agency at that time.
A property allegedly acquired by the Atawodis reportedly with about $808,851 , and suspiciously wired to the United States may have also come under serious scrutiny by anti-graft agencies. Sources hinted that the funds were reportedly deployed for the purchase of the said property believed to be located at a Lot in the 17th District of Fulton County in Georgia at 3266 Ferncliff Lane, Atlanta Georgia 30324.
This property, it was gathered was allegedly placed under investigations by the EFCC with the help of a US partner agency while the NIA may likely be called in to assist with authentication.
Recall that PICOMMS was set up between 2008 and 2012 during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. But it was later disbanded in 2013 when it was reportedly claimed that AVM Atawodi had steered the PICOMMS from the path originally designed for it. Sources revealed that the PICOMMS was funded partly by interventionist funds from NNPC, ONSA, NIMASA and Ministry of Defence.
AVM Atawodi was born in 1952 in Idah present day Kogi State. He had his primary education at Ajaka/Idah and later attended the Nigerian Military Academy Zaria between 1967-1971. Shortly after, he enlisted at the Nigerian Defense Academy in 1972 as a member of Regular Cadet Course 12. He was later commissioned into the Nigerian Airforce as a Pilot Officer on 14 December 1974.
In his military career, he attended several courses overseas including the Air War College, Karachi, Pakistan, an affiliate of the Karachi University, Pakistan, and rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshall before his retirement from the Military. He is married to Winnie, a banker and they both have four children namely Ebi, Uneku, Ele and Amana.
In May 2016, Atawodi was arraigned by the EFCC for allegedly defrauding the Federal government to the tune of about N600m through suspicious contracts deals during his time as head of PICOMMS. He however, pleaded not guilty and sought to challenge the legality of EFCC’s allegations. He also sought to establish his innocence as he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
