Mr Mohammed Umar, a close ally of president Muhammadu Buhari and a key member of the panel investigating the mismanagement of public funds meant for the war against Boko Haram, has made his way into the president’s bad books after it emerged that he was involved in alleged money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, a Premium Times story reveals.
Buhari okayed the arrest of Mohammed Umar, after perusing reports alleging that the retired Air Force officer ran a blackmailing and extortion cartel, according to the story which quoted unnamed officials as providing the information.
Umar was also regarded as a double agent in the story and an accumulator of choice cars and private jets through illicit means.
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.”
You can read the full story in Premium Times.
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