Nigeria: $2bn arms deal: EFCC arrests Yuguda, detains Dasuki’s Finance Director, others *Ex- defence minister, Sokoto gov risk arrest

Detained Dasuki

Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

Indications emerged, yesterday, that more heads may roll over the disappearance of $2 billion meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition for the country’s armed forces in the office of the National Security Adviser under the last administration.

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Vanguard learnt that no fewer than 20 top officials of the previous administration, who were alleged to have played active roles in the pilfering of funds meant for the procurement of weapons for the armed forces were taken into custody by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission, EFCC, for questioning.

Top among those in the kitty of the anti-graft agency, were the former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu.

A credible source in the EFCC indicated that Yuguda was arrested around 4p.m., yesterday, and taken to the Commission over some spurious payments said to have been made by him for the purpose of arms procurement.

The former minister, who worked under Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was still being questioned by operatives of the EFCC in Abuja as at the time of going to press last night.

Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, described as a very powerful officer in the office of the former NSA, was said to have been arrested and detained for sometime over the various payments that were causing ripples in the office of the NSA.

Operatives of the Commission were said to have extended their dragnet to a former Sokoto State governor, Atthahiro Bafarawa, whose sibling was said to have been identified as one of those who received huge financial payment from the office of the NSA for arms supply.

The operatives were also said to be angling to probe a former defence minister and a one-time national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Halilu Bello, in connection with the arms issue.

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A source in the EFCC confirmed that the sons of many top-ranking PDP officials were also found to have received various sums of money under the guise of supplying weapons for the armed forces but did not deliver.

Vanguard