- Centenary City project also under investigation
Paul Obi in Abuja
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, who was invited and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday for alleged diversion of ecological funds during his tenure, spent a second day with the anti-graft agency, explaining his role in the said mismanagement.
Anyim, who was also Senate President under Obasanjo, arrived the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday morning following an invitation by the agency.
Sources said that he was subsequently grilled by EFCC operatives about the management of ecological funds during his tenure as the SGF.
Confirming Anyim’s detention, EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwijaren said: “Yes, he has been arrested and he’s still under our custody.”
Uwijaren confirmed that Anyim was being questioned over the alleged “diversion of ecological funds meant for Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.”
Though, the EFCC spokesman will not provide further details whether the commission would also investigate Anyim on alleged corruption surrounding the Centenary City project, which he headed, THISDAY gathered that the commission might also look into the books of the Centenary City and find out whether Anyim was also culpable.
The Ecological Fund headed by a Permanent Secretary is domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), where Anyim superintended during the Jonathan administration.
Allocations from the Fund meant for the mitigation of ecological, erosion and other environmental degradation have over the years been a conduit pipe for corruption and sleaze.
State officials from the SGF office and state governors have often been accused of siphoning and diverting allocations from the Ecological Fund.
Anyim’s detention by the EFCC corroborates speculation about a possible clamp down on members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the Jonathan’s era by the Ministry of Justice and the EFCC.
Although, the commission had earlier denied such plan, but sources said that it submitted a list of persons due for corruption investigation to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in September.
The list is believed to be populated by high ranking PDP members in the Jonathan’s government, including former ministers and governors of the then ruling party.
