President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the arrest of a key member of the panel investigating the mismanagement of public funds meant for the war against Boko Haram after receiving damning reports that he was involved in alleged money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, reliable security and presidency sources have told Premium Times.
Despite
being his close ally and loyalist, Mr. Buhari okayed the arrest of Mohammed
Umar, after perusing reports alleging that the retired Air Force officer ran a
blackmailing and extortion cartel, officials said.
Mr.
Umar was arrested last week as operatives of the State Security Service (SSS)
raided his Abuja home.
Those
familiar with the matter said before moving against the retired officer, the
Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura, met with Mr. 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.”
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