Prelude to more arrests: EFCC boss visits Aso Rock
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday ostensibly to confer with President Muhammadu Buhari. Magu arrived at the villa at about 3.15pm in company of his police orderly.
Dressed in a dark brown suit, a white shirt and a bow tie, the EFCC chairman was clutching an office flat file inscribed with EFCC logo in his right hand. He spent less than 10 minutes in the president’s office. It was not likely that he was able to see the president who was inaugurating the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) at about the same time that the EFCC boss came in.
State House correspondents struggled to get a word from him on the purpose of his visit when he emerged from the President’s office but he turned them down, saying: “not now, not now.” Magu’s visit came less than 24 hours after he reportedly said that more influential Nigerians will be arrested soon as EFCC continues to investigate the alleged corruption that took place in the last administration.
“More influential Nigerians are on the radar of the EFCC and, in the coming weeks, they would have their day in court and Nigerians will be kept fully abreast of the results of the commission’s investigations,” Magu reportedly said on Wednesday at a meeting with media practitioners. Magu’s visit to the Villa also came barely 24 hours after the EFCC’s arrest of a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Military Administrator of Kaduna state, Brig. Gen. Lawal Ja’afaru Isa, who is also considered to be President Buhari’s political ally. Isa is the first chieftain of the APC to be arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of a sweeping probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.
He was also a one-time governorship candidate in Kano state of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) founded by Buhari, and is a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Isa was arrested at his Abuja residence located at Ajayi Crowther street, Asokoro. Investigators believe the retired soldier received over N100million from Mr. Dasuki.
It was gathered that operatives of the anti-graft commission invaded his residence around 9pm, and then whisked him away a few minutes later. It is gathered that the retired brigadier general, was invited last week to appear before the commission on Wednesday, January 6,to clear the air on “some questionable receipts” from the former NSA. Rather than honouring the invitation, sources said, Mr. Isa wrote a letter to the EFCC through his lawyer, seeking a postponement of his appearance date on the grounds of death of a relative. Apparently dissatisfied with his excuse, the EFCC however arrested him to clarify the “questionable receipts”. Meanwhile, the Federal High court in Abuja on Thursday admitted former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed and his son, Bello Abba Mohammed to bail for N300 million each and two sureties each in like sum.
Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed announced the bail conditions while ruling on the defendants bail applications. He said one of the sureties for Dr. Bello must be a director in the federal civil service or in any federal Agency. While one of the sureties for Abba must be a grade level 12 officer in the public service. Each of the sureties, the judge added must have landed property in Abuja worth N300milion and swear to an affidavit of means that is verifiable by the court deputy chief registrar. Justice Mohammed also ordered that Dr. Bello and his son Abba to deposit their travelling international passports with the court.
He further ordered that Abba who was on Tuesday remanded in Kuje prison custody should be returned to same prisons until he fulfills the bail conditions. The judge also ordered that the 3rd defendant, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed be returned to Abuja clinic where he is recuperating after a surgery under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police until he meets the terms of the bail. Bello Abba Mohammed, Bam projects and Properties Ltd and Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed are facing four count charges of laundering, criminal breach of trust, concealment and conversion of N300 million meant for purchase of arms into private company bank account. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges
