Eniola akinkuotu, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has launched a manhunt for Ugonna, son to the former Minister
of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
This is in connection with the alleged
disbursement of money to INEC officials and election monitors in the
build-up to the presidential election.
According to sources at the EFCC, Ugonna is the key to arresting all those involved in the case.
EFCC officials had stated that Diezani’s son served as a middleman between the ex-minister and the bank MD.
A senior official, who spoke to our
correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “We have launched a
manhunt for Ugonna, who the suspects said was the one who drew up a list
of individuals, who should be given the N23bn ($115m).
“We don’t know exactly where he is but
we will get him. He needs to explain his role in the sharing of the
money because the bank officials have been mentioning his name since
they were brought in.”
Ugonna is the Head of Business
Development and Commercial Marketing at Radam Maritime Services Limited,
a firm, which is headed by his father, Alison Madueke, a former Chief
of naval Staff, who is also under investigation by the EFCC for alleged
money laundering.
He is said to have business interests in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Ugonna, who is an engineer, burst into
the limelight in 2012 when photos showing his ostentatious lifestyle
went viral on the Internet.
In one of such pictures, the graduate of
University of Maryland College Park in the US, was seen flying in a
private jet and later drinking champagne in a limousine. He has also
been seen displaying wads of dollar notes on social media.