A high ranking army officer has been arrested in connection with the $2.1 billion arms deal scam involving a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday night, arrested a serving colonel in the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in the sharing of money from the office of the National Security Adviser under Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Vanguard reports.
The arrest saw the anti graft agency deploying over two truckloads of armed security personnel, who cordoned off the the residence of the colonel in the Apo district of the Federal Capital Territory where the operatives had to bring down the fence to gain entrance into the sprawling complex, the report states.
According to information gathered the colonel (names withheld) served as a Special Assistant to the former National Security Adviser in charge of liaison with the Nigerian Army.
It was further gathered that upon arrival at the complex, the army officer locked himself up in one of the buildings while the EFCC operatives laid siege until about 10pm when he was moved to the EFCC headquarters for interrogation.
Although the serving army officer had earlier been arrested by the EFCC and questioned, it appeared he was released on bail before he was picked up again and detained by the anti graft agency.
It was revealed that the officer refused arrest by barricading his gate, which forced operatives of EFCC to forcefully gain entrance. On Wednesday evening, the officer was again taken to his house where a search was reportedly conducted. But when the officer was asked to open one of the safes in the house, he refused to oblige, forcing the operatives to force it open before taking away some vital documents.
The report was confirmed by a senior official of the commission who revealed that the arrest was in connection with the on-going investigation into arms deal by the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
“Yes, we have in our custody a serving army colonel who was a Special Assistant to the former NSA. His name featured in several deals and want to find out his role in the arms funds. He is still in our custody,” the source revealed.