The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the United States of America, USA, were recently proven wrong following the arrest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s close friend and ally, Mohammed Umar, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Buhari, had approved the arrest of Umar, after perusing reports alleging that the retired Air Force officer ran a blackmailing and extortion cartel.
Umar, was arrested last week, as operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS, raided his Abuja home.
Recall, that the US, had two weeks ago technically called for the resignation of Buhari, while revealing the President’s visionless plan for the country.
The World’s most powerful country, noted that Buhari’s anti-corruption drive was selective and focused on shutting up chieftains of the PDP.
Interestingly, PDP, has consistently accused the Buhari-led government of trump up charges and massive arrest, coupled with a selective war of corruption.
The party had also challenged the president to prosecute APC chieftains, whom people have written petitions against, but the EFCC was yet to look into such books.
According to reports, Buhari had ordered the arrest of his closest friend, in order to prove to the world that his anti-corruption war is not selective.
Those familiar with the matter, said before moving against the retired officer, the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, met with Buhari, where he tabled reports suggesting that the panel member had been busy using the name of the President and other top officials of the administration to intimidate, extort and blackmail individuals and businesses.
“The president became worried and jittery when he was confronted with the way a man he trusted had been behaving,” a presidency source said.
“So he ordered that he should be picked up, while the allegations against him are thoroughly investigated.”
It was gathered that documents seized from Umar’s residence during a raid on June 19, included classified documents from the president’s office, details of government transactions from the Central Bank of Nigeria, and details of bank transactions belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.
A document containing details of disbursements made to the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies, was also recovered during the raid.
Post-Nigeria further gathered, that Umar retired as an Air Commodore in the Nigerian Air Force in January 2014. While in service, he headed the Air Force Holding Company, as well as the Air Force Properties Limited. He retired into enormous wealth, officials involved in the investigations said.
Currently, he has six companies, including a private jet company with a fleet size of 10 aircraft, officials also said.
“Many top government functionaries live in his houses in Abuja,” a security source said. “He also has properties in Dubai and London.”
Despite owning a private jet company and multiple real estates across the world, the total amount traced to his bank accounts, was only N165 million.
The total value of currencies evacuated from his residence during the raid was at least N300 million.
Security officials believe he received the cash payments – in breach of the Money Laundering Law.
Currently, Umar was still held at the State Security Service, SSS, detention centre in Abuja, as security officials continued with investigations into the matter.
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