The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, detectives on Monday, November 30, arrested former Minister of State (Finance) Bashir Yuguda for allegedly receiving N1.5billion from the National Security Adviser’s (NSA’s) office for unclear reasons.
Yuguda is also being grilled for allegedly collecting N1.275billion from the Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general election and N775million from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Also arrested yesterday were Shaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration in the NSA’s office during the tenure of Mr. Sambo Dasuki, Sagir Bafarawa, Abbah Mohammed and Haliru Mohammed who are both the sons of ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and ex-National Chairman of PDP, Mohammed Bello Haliru. Their fathers had been put on EFCC radar as at press time yesterday.
Sagir Bafarawa, allegedly acting as front for his father, was said to have received $4.6b from the NSA’s office. Abbah Mohammed reportedly got N600m in the name of Bam Properties.
About 18 others were also under investigation last night, but the EFCC gave no details.
It was learnt that among the 18 suspects were top military chiefs connected with the “armsgate”.
A sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “The EFCC stepped up its investigation into the controversial arms deal by Dasuki, with the arrest of a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda. He was arrested in Abuja and brought to the Head Office of the commission at about 4pm.
“He is being grilled for his alleged complicity in the armsgate. He allegedly received N1.5billion from the NSA’s office through an unnamed company for unclear reasons.
“The ex-minister is alleged to have received N1.275billion from the Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general election. He also allegedly received N775million from the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation. All monies were paid to him between December 2014 and May 2015."
Below are some of the allegations:
Ex-Minister Bashir Yuguda collected N1.5b from NSA’s office
Yuguda obtained N1.275b from Stallion Group for 2015 campaign
Ex-Minister got N775m from the Office of the Accountant-General
Finance chief Shaibu Salisu allegedly furnished a kitchen with N28m
Sagir Bafarawa got $4.6billion from the NSA’s office
Abbah Mohammed and Haliru Mohammed got N600million
Ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and ex-PDP National