Former Governor Gbenga Daniel Interrogated Over Abuse of Import Waivers

Gbenga Daniel

Former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State spent a few hours today at the Lagos offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where he was questioned about his alleged conversion to his personal use of import waivers obtained from the Federal Government. A source at the EFCC confirmed that the illegal conversion happened when Ogun State hosted a national sports festival while Mr. Daniel was governor.

In 2007 it was revealed that the then governor was involved in a N500 million import waiver scam during his tenure as Ogun State governor.

Our source said that Mr. Daniel obtained import waivers for Ogun State as part of preparations for the 15th National Sports Festival in November 2005. The governor then sold part of the waivers to Globe Motors, owned by Willie Anumudu, for N300 million. Then Governor Daniel later stated that Globe Motors had given the Ogun State government a “donation” of N300 million in cash and cars to host the games.

After our 2007 report, the EFCC briefly arrested Mr. Anumudu, the Managing Director of Globe Motors.

However, an investigator at the EFCC confirmed that Mr. Daniel further abused a second import waiver which he secured for the importation of 44,000 metric tons of iron rods for the Ogun State government to build the “Gateway Games Village.” The Village was built to accommodate athletes attending the games. The controversial merchandize arrived after the games had ended in April 2006, and the governor converted the rods to his personal use, investigators said.

Our EFCC source it was not yet clear if the EFCC will file fresh charges against Mr. Daniel who is already undergoing trial for money laundering before a state High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.