The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Special Task Force on
the alleged $2bn arms procurement scandal probe on Monday stepped up its
tempo with the arrest of a former Minister of State for Finance,
Ambassador Bashir Yuguda.
The commission also arrested the son of a former Governor of Sokoto
State, Attahiru Bafarawa, and the son of a former Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Dr. Haliru Bello, who is also a former Minister of
Defence in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Investigations revealed that the former minister was picked up in Abuja
by men of the 27-member task force on the arms probe set up by the new
Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and taken to the Idiagbon House
Headquarters of the commission by 4pm on Monday.
He was still being interrogated for alleged complicity in the arms
procurement deal as of the time of filing this report.
A top operative of the commission said the ex-minister of state was
picked up because operatives allegedly traced N1.5bn to him.
He was also said to have received another N1.275bn from the Stallion
Group during the last general elections.
The source added that the commission arrested Sagir Bafarawa, a son of
the former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, for allegedly
receiving N4.6m from the Office of the National Security Adviser at that
time, Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.).
It was learnt that the operatives decided to go after the junior Bafarawa
because of the belief that he acted as a front for his father in the arms
deals under probe.
Our correspondent gathered that the son of Haliru Mohammed, Abba.
received N600m in the name of BAM Properties Limited.
It was learnt that the operatives arrested a former Director, Finance and
Administration of the ONSA, an employee of the Nigeria Intelligence
Agency, for alleged disbursement of funds from the office.
Investigation revealed that the EFCC had commenced moves to arrest Haliru
Bello and Bafarawa allegedly in connection with the funds traced to their
children.
The source said, “Today, the commission stepped up the investigation into
the armsgate and arrested former Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda. He was
arrested in Abuja and taken to the commission’s headquarters by 4pm
today.
“He is being interrogated for complicity in the arms deal; he received
N1.5bn through an unnamed firm for unclear reasons.
‘The operatives are also of the view that he received another N1.275bn
from the Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general
elections.”
When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the
EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, he confirmed that some arrests were made in
relation to the ongoing probe.
“I can confirm to you that some arrests have been made,” he said without
giving details.
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