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.
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 thearmsgate 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.”
Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC has 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.
