The anti-graft agency also asked the suspects to be reporting monthly to its Abuja office pending when investigations are concluded on the ongoing probe.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized the passport of Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, the Secretary-General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), a senior staff member of the union affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
The EFCC had recently arrested Lawal and other top officials of the union, including Comrade Joshua Apebo, Deputy Secretary-General and Comrade Issac Ojemhenke, FCT Secretary/Head of Administration.
The anti-graft agency is investigating Lawal over his one billion naira (N1 billion) investment in Meristem Securities Limited, his over ten billion naira (N10 billion) choice property in Banana Island Lagos, Maitama Abuja and other foreign property outside the country.
Former Chairman of ASCSN in Oyo State, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, confirmed the latest development in a statement on Monday.
According to the Convener of the Congress of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (CSCSN), the anti-graft agency also asked the suspects to be reporting monthly to its Abuja office pending when investigations are concluded on the ongoing probe.
The statement read, “We have been reliably informed that the EFCC has taken possession of the passport of Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, the Secretary-General of ASCSN. They have also seized the passports of the Deputy Secretary-General, Comrade Josha Apebo and that of the FCT Secretary/Head of Admin, Comrade Issac Ojemhenke.
“The seizure was confirmed by a reliable source based on the ongoing massive probe of ASCSN over money laundering and massive corruption in the union. The EFCC also has mandated the Deputy Secretary-General of ASCSN Comrade Joshua Apebo to report monthly to the Abuja office of the EFCC pending when investigations are concluded on the ongoing probe of ASCSN.
“It is no longer a rumour, it is an objective reality that ASCSN and its former Secretary-General , Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal are being probed by anti-graft agencies. The union and some top union officials have been raided several times by the EFCC and the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission). Many more of these top officials of the union have been either arrested or invited for questioning by both the EFCC and the ICPC.
“ASCSN is a billionaire labour union affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC). ASCSN is one of the largest labour unions in Nigeria. It is the major labour union in the TUC, its membership cuts across senior civil servants in the federal and state governments of Nigeria.
“The discoveries in the course of the probe are unimaginable, scandalous and equally disgraceful that an Industrial union could submerge to such a lowest ebb, such that over the years the union has been used by some parasites in the union for money laundering.
“As members of the union, we are disturbed by these ugly and horrible developments. It is worrisome that so-called Comrades have been trading with the union to the extent that Comrade Lawal and some of his collaborators are now richer than the union. With the hundreds of millions of naira discovered in their accounts, the billions deposited in Meristem Securities Limited and their choice property in Lagos, Abuja and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Please see attached pictures of some of Lawal's property in Lagos. We now know why Lawal is forcing himself on the union.
“It is important to note that Lawal is above 65 years and that hẹ is a retired staff member of ASCSN and also that he has collected his gratuities fully and his pensions paid off. As a matter of fact, Lawal paid himself off officially last year but has refused to vacate the office and that even as a retired staff of ASCSN, Lawal sacked over 25 young staff members of the union, and he has refused to pay them their gratuities unless they sign an evil document he presented to them.
“It should also be noted that while in the service of ASCSN Lawal never for once paid checkoff dues to the union that he has turned himself to be the landlord. Also as against civil service rules, Lawal has refused to retire at 60 years and he has continued in office at over 65 years against the conditions of service under which he was employed.”