$2.1bn Arms Deal: Olisa Metuh Spends First Night in EFCC Cell

up by the operatives of the anti-graft agency and it is likely he will still spend more time there.

PDP Spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh

 

Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh has spent his first night in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's cell after he was picked up by the operatives of the agency yesterday in Abuja to answer questions on how the sum of N1.4 billion left the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser into a company, Destra,  linked to him.

 

Metuh had earlier in a hurried news conference, hinted that the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, had given him a job to do and that he successfully completed the said job, but failed to disclose what the job was, how much he was paid for and when.

 

The revelation by Metuh, according to EFCC officials, prompted the agency to beam its searchlight on cash payments from the ONSA, leading to the discovery that he was one of the major beneficiaries of slush funds, now a subject of investigation and prosecution by the Federal Government.

 

Vanguard revealed that out of the $2.1 billion arms funds, N400 million was transferred from ONSA to the company on November 24, 2014 which previously had a balance of N6, 676,576.06 only before the major transfer from the ONSA.

 

A top source in the EFCC said that Metuh was also receiving a monthly pay of N4 million from ONSA.

 

A top EFCC source said Metuh was likely to spend the night with them given the weight of financial transactions in ONSA traced to him and his company.

 

The source said: “We arrested Chief Metuh this morning (yesterday) and as we speak he is still being questioned and it is not likely that he will be released today.

 

“We want to finish the interrogation of Metuh at once, so that we can decide whether to charge him to court or let him to go,” the source said.

 

Metuh, has, however slammed his arrest by the EFCC, claiming that he was being persecuted.

 

“I have not done anything unlawful. Whatever I have done in pursuance of my office, I can defend it anywhere, any time,”he said. 

Suicide Bomber Strikes in Borno Again, Kills Five Returnee IDPs, Injures Many

According to reports, a suicide bomber struck Gwoza town in Borno State killing at least five Internally Displaced Persons and injuring several others.

Victim of the blast

 

Security sources and witnesses have said that at least five persons were killed on Monday, January 4 and many others in the reclaimed Gwoza town in Borno State after a suicide bomber sneaked into a resettling members of a recently displaced community.

 

Gwoza is about 123km southwest of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

 

Izge community under Gwoza Local area has been one of the deadliest strongholds of the Boko Haram insurgents until military moved in to reclaimed the place recently.

 

Yusuf DanIzge, whose relatives still live in the community, said he received a call from them that the border community near Cameroonian was attacked by a suicide bomber.

 

He said: “The bomber whom they described as a man moved into a crowded area of Izge where some of our people are now putting up under makeshift pavilions and detonated himself. Five persons were killed including the bomber and many people, amomg whom were also children were seriously injured”.

 

A top government official who confirmed the incident but pleaded anonymity, said a government delegation that was set to take relief items to the people of Gwoza are trapped inside the town, but had to put off the trip for fear of attack.

Davido Lands in Hospital After Baby Mama Drama

Pop superstar, Davido has been admitted in hospital following the highly publicized drama that trailed his baby mama saga.

Davido

 

The media in the past few days has been awash with the Davido baby mama saga involving Dele Momodu and his cousin Sophie Momodu.

 

It seems like the turbulent periods he experienced have taken a toll on the 'Aye' crooner as he has landed in the hospital.

The 23-year-old music star revealed on Twitter, that he was just leaving the hospital, after treatments on Tuesday afternoon.

Davido further added that he is heading to the studio to remix Humble Smiths’ smasing hit single, “ Osinachi”

 

He said: “The Lord is my strength … About to be discharged from the hospital From here to the studio BOUTTA kill this osinachi remix! @humblesmiths.”

Read Rafa Benitez' Touching Statement After Being Fired by Real Madrid

Spanish handler and former Real Madrid Coach, Rafa Benitez has released a statement following his sack from the Spanish Club.

Rafa Benitez

 

Following his dismissal as Real Madrid Manager just after seven months at the helm of affairs and three losses, Rafa Benitez has released a statement.

 

In a statement released on his website, the 55-year-old Madrid native thanked those at Real Madrid for allowing him to work at the club and wished his successor Zinedine Zidane luck for the future.

 

Read the statement after the cut...

 

"Now, at the end of my time as first team coach of Real Madrid, I would like to use this article to say goodbye to everyone at every level of the club. I want everyone at the club from the board of directors, executives, workers and all of the fans, know that it has been an honour and privilege to be in charge at this club where I grew up as a person, player and coach from the lowest categories through to the first team.

 

"As a Madridista from Madrid, steeped in the traditions and values of this institution, which I learned in the old sports city of Castellana, it has been an honour to work for these colours. I would especially like to thank everyone at the new sports city and the Santiago Bernabéu who since my first steps through the door have supported me and made my work easier. Thanks to all for helping.

 

"With all that I have said still in mind, I would like to wish good luck to Zinedine Zidane, my successor, and his staff. To all the players, coaches and staff in both Valdebebas and Bernabéu, I wish all the best and also good luck.

 

"With all my respect and thanks... HALA MADRID and NOTHING ELSE. "

Man Dies Few Hours After His Marriage to a Beautiful Bride in Kano (Photos)

A young man who newly got married has passed away under highly dramatic and unexpected conditions.

Mallam Muhammad Hamma Yakasai and his bride

 

According to a social media user, Farouk Bakinzuwo who shared the photos, Mallam Muhammad Hamma Yakasai passed away after his wedding fatiha on January 3, 2016.

 

His wedding took place at 10am and he passed away same day around 6pm.

 

Mallam Muhammad Hamma Yakasai

 

Other details regarding the circumstances leading to his death are still sketchy as at the time of filing this report.

$2.1bn Arms Probe: EFCC Detains Top Foreign Businessman Implicated in the Arms Deal Saga

The $2.1 billion arms deal saga has caught another bait, as a top foreign businessman has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for his involvement in the scandal.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a German businessman in connection with the ongoing investigation into the $2.1bn arms procured under the Goodluck Jonathan administration and training of security personnel outside the country.

 

A top operative of the EFCC, who confided in our correspondent on Tuesday, said the German was arrested because investigation linked him to millions of funds meant for security and arms procurement under the immediate-past administration.

 

The EFCC operative said the German was arrested on Monday last week in Abuja to make clarifications on his role in the arms importation saga and other related issues. He is still being detained by the commission as of the time of filing this report by 4pm on Tuesday.

 

It was learnt that he was picked up a week after a serving colonel of the Nigerian Army, who served as the Military Assistant to the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), was invited for questioning in relation to the arms deal.

 

Operatives investigating the involvement of the German were said to have traced his financial transactions to Belarus, a former Soviet republic, which featured prominently as a theatre of training and related security events during the campaign against Boko Haram under Jonathan.

 

The source added, “There is this foreigner that is being detained by the EFCC over the arms deal controversy. He has spent over a week in the cell. He was picked up on December 28, 2015 and has been in detention since then.

“He is being detained because he was involved in some of the security deals with the military officer, who is being detained as a result of the same arms issue.

“They paid him a huge sum in dollars but he is believed to have spent a fraction of the money on the training (of troops); so, they are grilling him on how to get the remaining amount from him.”

 

The EFCC had opened investigation into the training of Nigerian Special Forces in the Eastern European country in November, 2015. The EFCC task force, constituted to investigate arms procurement under the Jonathan administration is probing how millions of dollars meant for the training of the 750 Special Forces in Belarus and other countries in Eastern Europe were spent.

 

The operatives are of the opinion that huge amount of funds released for the training contract were not spent on the project. It was gathered that the former NSA and the top hierarchy of the nation’s security structure came up with a policy to train an elite force, comprising well-trained operatives from the various security forces, to combat the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

 

The beneficiaries, drawn from the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Police and the Department of State Services, received training in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, handling of different calibre of firearms and grenades among others.

 

The beneficiaries, who left the country in September, 2014, and arrived in the country in December, 2014, were immediately deployed in various operational fronts in the North East. Attempts to get the EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, did not succeed as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect as of the time of sending this report.

AIT Boss, Dokpesi's Son Presents a Giant Greeting Card to President Buhari in Abuja (Photos)

Recently released AIT boss from Kuje prison, Raymond Dokpesi's son, today led DAAR Communication officials to Aso Rock to present a giant greeting card to President Buhari.

Presidential spokesperson having a handshake after receing the greeting card from AIT boss

 

William Dokpesi, the son of the founder of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has today led a team of officials of the Daar communications to pay a courtesy visit and present a giant greeting card to President Muhammadu Buhari at the state house in Abuja.

 

Photos taken from the visit, show presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina receiving the greeting card unbehalf of the president who is probably busy in a closed-door meeting with Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 

 

It can be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had last month, arrested the AIT boss and former Sokoto state Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, in connection with the ongoing investigation into arms procurement by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

 

He was later released on bail at an Abuja court after spending some time at the Kuje Prison before his sureties reportedly paid the sum of N200 miilion each.