EFCC asks Mark to account for N5.4b

Former Senate President David Mark is to
account for over N5.4billion slush cash and
campaign funds traced to him, The Nation learnt
yesterday.
Part of the money is N550 million, which is part
of the $2.1billion controversial arms procurement
cash, according to Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) sources.
Mark is also expected to respond to issues raised
in the Panama Papers bordering on his
relationship with some shell firms.
But Mark insisted yesterday that no 2015
presidential election campaign fund for Benue
State was given to him.
Detectives will today grill Mark on four issues.
Mark it was learnt, requested to be allowed to
travel home to Otukpo, Benue State, after his
preliminary grilling at the EFCC on Thursday, to
fetch documents to exonerate himself from the
allegations.
He is to answer questions on the following issues:
N550m arms procurement cash;
N2.9billion curious payment into National
Assembly’s account, which was shared to
Senators during his  tenure; and
his role in the N2billion campaign funds meant for
Benue State.
“There is also Mark’s alleged links with
eight offshore shell companies by #Panama
Papers in flagrant violation of the code of conduct
for public officers,” an EFCC source said, adding:
“The firms were allegedly used to launder money,
evade tax and dodge sanctions.”
Mark, in a statement by his Media Assistant Paul
Mumeh, yesterday faulted the EFCC and insisted
that he kept a clean record as a public officer.
The statement said: “Our attention has been
drawn to media reports wherein it was reported
that former President of the Senate David Mark
was quizzed by Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) over some alleged financial
transactions.
“To set the record straight, Senator Mark was
invited by the EFCC via a letter addressed to the
National Assembly to answer questions on the
2015 presidential election campaign funds as it
concerned Benue State.
“As a law abiding citizen, Sen. Mark honoured the
invitation.
“Curiously, they also alleged that the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) paid over N2bilion into
the National Assembly’s account which he, as the
then President of the Senate, allegedly shared
among the 109 Senators (including PDP, ACN,
and ANPP) in 2010. Again, to the best of his
knowledge, Sen. Mark is not aware of such
transaction.
“ This simply did not make sense to any right
thinking member of the society. Sen. Mark
wondered why anybody would think that PDP will
pay money into National Assembly account. He,
however, clarified all the issues raised before
returning home.
“Sen. Mark believes in due process and rule of
law. He has maintained a clean record of public
service over the years and will continue to uphold
the highest standard of conduct expected of
public servants.
“Sen. Mark’s house has since become a
pilgrimage of sort to politicians across party lines,
friends and well-wishers identifying with him at
this moment.
“He however appealed to his supporters, friends
and associates to remain calm and see his
current travails as a price he has to pay for
leadership.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is the first and
only official statement from the office of Sen.
Mark on this issue.