Buhari Will Not Interfere In EFCC’s Probe Of Close Ally Isa – Presidency

EFCC

The Presidency said, last night, that it would not interfere in the arrest and probe of a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Jafaru Isah, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.

Isa, Military Administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996, during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is the first chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to be arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of a probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.

According to Vanguard, a presidential aide said Isah is President Buhari’s political ally, who had been with him from the days of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), but the long relationship does not in any way suggest that Buhari was associated with the alleged collection of N100 million from the Office of the National Adviser, ONSA, by Isa.

“It is true that Isah has been with Buhari from the days of the ANPP and CPC and was equally a member of the Transition Committee and actually headed the Defence Committee.

“That does not mean that Buhari knows anything about the N100 million said to have been collected by the man from the ONSA,” the source said.

Jafaru is also described as a close friend of the embattled ex-NSA, Dasuki, who is facing multiple charges over alleged money laundering and breach of public trust in three courts.

Jafaru was arrested at his Abuja residence located on Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro by operatives of the anti-graft commission around 9pm on Wednesday when he failed to honour an invitation to clear the air on some payments traced to him from the ONSA.