David Mark Under EFCC Investigation For Alleged Money Laundering

This may not be the best of times for former Senate President, David Mark.
The ranking lawmaker is currently being investigated by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering
offence.

The Sun news online reports that the probe of the former number three
citizen started soon after President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on
May 29. A reliable source within the anti-graft agency disclosed that
the investigation borders "on a huge inflow into a bank account linked
to Senator Mark, which was immediately flagged as suspicious
transaction."

"We have done a lot of work on the case but tracing the source and the
purpose of the huge inflow which runs into several millions are posing
some challenges. We were sure of filing charges against the Senator
but we are yet to get the final instruction", the source who refused
to give further details stated.

It was gathered that operatives handling the case had scheduled
interrogation of Senator Mark as the last stage of the investigation
but the former Senate President was already aware of the development.

"He must have been alerted by his bankers from whom we have demanded
some documents in relation to the transaction", another source in the
anti-graft agency added.

Efforts to get Senator Mark's reaction through his spokesman, Kola
Ologbondiyan proved abortive as his known GSM lines were all switched
off as at the time of filing this report.


In the same vein, calls and text messages to the EFCC spokesman,
Wilson Uwujaren for official confirmation of the development, were
also ignored.
A source close to Senator Mark however told Saturday Sun that the
embattled EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde launched the investigation to
blackmail the former Senate President "for failing to speak against a
public hearing being conducted by the Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions over allegations that Lamorde
misappropriated billions of naira and properties recovered from former
IGP, Tafa Balogun and ex-governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, among others.

"The former Senate President is not the only target, Lamorde is
desperate to hold on to any straw and drag down along with himself as
many as possible should the Senate proceed with his probe. He can rest
assured that we will resist his blackmail and make him and his agency
accountable", the source added.