7 prominent people arrested by EFCC this year that got people talking

One of the reasons Nigerians voted President Muhammadu Buhari into power, was his promise to deal with the monster crippling the country’s economy – corruption.

Since Buhari took over power, the war against corruption has been gathering momentum. Many prominent people who believed to be sacred cows have been bundled into detention facilities by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Since the beginning of the year, a number prominent people have been arrested in the ongoing fight against corruption.

Those who are guilty of looting the nation’s treasury and have not yet been arrested are in fear of being picked up at any time by the anti-graft agency.

Those who have already been arrested have given very startling revelations on how the nation’s treasury was plundered.

Nigerians found out that the sum of $2.1 billion meant to procure arms to fight the menace of Boko Haram insurgency were diverted and shared among top politicians. In the arms purchase scandal alone, the EFCC has arrested and grilled over 20 persons.

Others have been invited by the commission to answer questions on alleged corrupt practices.

Below is a list of people who have been arrested this year by the EFCC as the fight against corruption wages on.

READ ALSO: EFCC detains ex-CDS Badeh

1. Olisa Metuh:

On Tuesday, January 5, operatives of the EFCC stormed the Abuja home of the spokesman the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh and whisked him away. Metuh was implicated in the $2.1 billion arms contracts as the EFCC traced N1.4 billion to the account of a company allegedly linked to him. He is also facing a seven countscharge of money laundering involving the sum of N400m, part of the $2.1bn arms fund. Appearing for his trial in court, the PDP spokesman was brought in handcuffs which sparked criticisms from his party. The party wondered why he was brought in handcuffs when his case was not bordering on security threat. He was remanded in Kuje prison. After weeks of detention, he was released in the evening on Thursday, January 28 after meeting his bail condition.

2. Lawal Jafaru Isa:

On January 7, reports filtered in that Isa, a former military governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress had been arrested by the anti-graft agency. His arrest got a lot of people talking being that he was the first chieftain of the APC to be arrested by the EFCC in the probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.

He was later released after he returned his own part of the loot.

3. Emeka Mba:

On Monday, January 11, Mba, the director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was arrested by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N15 billion fraud. He was picked up in Abuja and taken to the anti-graft agency’s headquarters where he was interrogated. Sources said EFCC agents traced some money to a secret account in an unnamed bank after weeks of investigation.

4. Jide Omokore:

Reports surfaced on January 27, that the EFCC had arrested Jide Omokore, an ally of former president, Goodluck Jonathan and chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited. His company was said to be one of those that got multibillion dollar worth of public assets without due process by the Jonathan government in 2011. He was released the next day after giving his statement.

5. Tom Ikimi:

On Friday, February 5, there were reports that Tom Ikimi, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex- minister of foreign affairs to late Nigerian dictator General Sanni Abacha had been arrested by the anti-graft agency. Ikimi, who defected from the APC to support Jonathan’s bid for a second term was allegedly involved in the $2.1billion arms funds scandal, hence his predicament.

6. Ricky Tarfa:

Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was on Friday, February 5, arrested by agents of the EFCC in Lagos for allegedly obstructing justice. He was arrested outside the premises of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere area of Lagos Island. The commission said he prevented the operatives of the EFCC from arresting his clients, two Beninois nationals, who were being tried by the court for offenses bordering on forgery and conspiracy.

READ ALSO: EFCC charges SAN to court for obstructing justice

His arrest and detention sparked harsh criticisms from his colleagues.

7. Air vice Marshal R.A. Ojuawo:

Today, reports filtered in that Ojuawo, a military chief believed to be involved in the controversial $2.1bn arms deal was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way out of the country by the EFCC.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren however, said he could not confirm the story. “I cannot confirm if he was arrested or not. I don’t know if he’s in custody.”

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