Buhari’s Close Friend Returns N170 million Fraud Money

One of the close friends of President Muhammadu Buhari and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Brigadier General Jafaru Isa (rtd.), has reportedly returned the sum of N170 million to the Federal Government according to the PUNCH. 

General Isa, was the former military governor of Kaduna State. He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in January for allegedly receiving the sum of #170 million from the former National Security Adviser of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.).

The retired Army general was later, released by the financial graft commision after he returned #100 million to the coffers of the government with a promise to pay the balance of #70 million later.

A reliable source at the EFCC said yesterday:

“I can confirm to you that Jafaru Isa has returned the balance of #70 million to the Federal Government’s purse. This brings the total amount of money he has returned to #170 million.”

The PDP had accused the EFCC of being partial after General Jafaru Isa, who was arrested at the same time as Olisa Metuh (former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP) was released after five days in detention, while Metuh spent 3-weeks in detention by the commission.

In response to the PDP’s accusation, acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, had said:

“From the records, Metuh got over #400 million. He has not said anything because we need the public money to be returned so that it’s going to be used for public good.”

“Also for Jafaru Isa, what Dasuki gave him was N170m. He also agreed that he collected that money. He was with us for four to five days and then he made a deposit of N100m and signed an undertaking to bring the rest. That does not mean we will not prosecute him.”

The statement by the EFCC chairman that the EFCC will still go ahead to prosecute General Isa is one that raises plenty of eyebrows considering the health challenges of the former Army General.

The former military governor was a member of Buhari’s 19-man transition committee and was a governorship aspirant in the 2011 elections, where he contested to become the governor of Bauchi State.

Kingsley Ukpai

I write, I write and I keep writing... Most importantly, I make sure everything I write makes sense!

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