$2.1bn Arms Deal Probe: EFCC Arrests Buhari’s Associate, Ja’afaru Isa

EFCC NigeriaThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Brig.-Gen. Lawal Ja’afaru Isa (retd).

The Spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest of the All Progress Congress Chieftain in a sting operation on his Asokoro residence in Abuja Wednesday night.

Uwujaren, however, did not provide details on why Isa, a former military governor of Kaduna State was arrested but it was learnt that he was picked up by EFCC agents to explain his involvement in the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the past administration.

According to sources, Isa is alleged to have received over N100 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC over financial crimes.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that when the one-time governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, in Kano State was invited last week to appear before the EFCC on Wednesday (yesterday) to clear the on “some questionable receipts” from the former NSA, who is a close friend, he instructed his lawyers to write the commission, seeking a postponement of his appearance on grounds of the death of a relative.

Apparently not buying his explanation for a postponement of his appearance, EFCC operatives stormed his residence yesterday and whisked him away to their head office, where he is currently being interrogated.

Mr. Isa is the first APC chieftain to be arrested by the EFCC since a sweeping probe began into the controversial $2.1 billion arms deal scandal that rocked the Office of the National Security Adviser under the past Goodluck Jonathan administration.