Oscarline Onwuemenyi
18 December 2015, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has distanced itself from media reports that it was paid millions of dollars from the allegedly misappropriated $2.1 billion voted for security by the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, and for which Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser, is currently standing trial.
The company said in an official statement signed by its Communications Officer, Ahmed Shekarau it had no share in the alleged loot, but stated that whatever monies it was paid by the former NSA was in connection to electricity bills for power the office consumed.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report in the print and on electronic media of Monday, December 14, 2015, to the effect that AEDC received the sum of N125,503,255.11 from the Office of the National Security Adviser ONSA.
“AEDC wishes to clarify that the said sum was paid by the ONSA as part payment for electricity consumed by the Presidency,” the statement noted.
It would be recalled that Dasuki is currently being prosecuted over a controversial $2.1 billion arms deal.
At the hearing of the money laundering case against him and two others at the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday, Dasuki confirmed he had paid N125.5 million to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, among other payments.
In the alleged fraud, a certain company is said to have collected N1.45 billion to offer special prayers.