Why Jafaru Isa Was Released By EFCC

Brigadier General Lawal Jafaru Isa, a former military administrator of Kaduna State was released by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because he refunded some of the money he received from the arms deal, a source has disclosed.

According to The Nation, the All Progressives Congress chieftain refunded 60 per cent of the money he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Isa collected  from the office of the NSA.

Regarding the interrogation of Gen. Isa, the source said: “He admitted collecting money from ONSA and he has refunded 60 per cent of the sum credited to him. I think it should be about N100 million.

“Isa is the only person who has so far refunded money among the political figures who collected funds from ONSA. We have granted him bail to allow him time to source for the balance,” the source told The Nation.

It would be recalled that the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) had decried the release of Isa, eight hours after he was arrested by the EFCC, alleging that, the Federal Government was not fighting corruption but on a clamp-down mission on PDP leaders.”

The PDP noted that its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh was arrested without invitation by the anti-graft agency and had remained incarcerated since Tuesday while Isa was quickly released “after the EFCC boss” meeting at the Presidential villa.

“The action of EFCC in freeing Isa and still detaining Metuh is condemnable, as the two of them were being investigated over same allegation of receiving funds from the office of the National Security Adviser.

“This clearly shows that the APC government is not fighting corruption but using the much hyped crusade as a cover to persecute PDP leaders and decimate the opposition, a project the EFCC has clearly yielded itself as a willing tool.

“What happened to the illegal holding charge upon which it has detained the PDP spokesman beyond the limit stipulated by Section 35 (5a) of the Constitution and in violation of his guaranteed personal liberty under the law?

Although Metuh has admitted to the transfer of N400million into a company in which he has substantial interest, he is yet to make refund.