A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, has spent the second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja, where he was being held since Sunday afternoon in connection with the ongoing probe of a former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, The Editor Nigeria learnt.
Anyim, who responded to an invitation from the anti-graft agency in respect of a N780 million aviation ministry’s fund, has been held since Sunday afternoon.
The former Senate President was grilled on Sunday for several hours in connection with the fund which was traced to a company in which he was a director.
The detention of the former SGF is coming days after Oduah was named in the Pandora Papers as one of 10 Nigerians hiding their wealth in tax havens.
The EFCC is believed to have commenced a probe of Oduah and others named in the report.
Our correspondent gathered that the 60-year-old was again quizzed on Monday on how the ministry’s fund found its way into his company’s account and his relationship with Oduah.
Sources said Anyim, who was Senate President between 2000 and 2003, would be released after the investigators are satisfied with his responses to the series of questions put to him in respect to the slush fund.
It was learnt that the principal suspect in the matter, Oduah, would soon be invited for a session with the investigators.
A senior officer said, “The former SGF is still with us answering some hard questions on how the N780m found its way into his company’s account.
“He is cooperating but we would only release him on bail after he has provided satisfactory answers to our queries.”
The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to calls for detailed update on the case.
