The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed why it arrested Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of Africa Independent Television, and former governor of the Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa.
The duo was arrested in connection with the current probe into arms purchase by the office of the National Security Adviser during the Goodluck Jonathan government.
Premium Times reports that two men were detained at their Abuja residences by two separate teams of detectives and then brought to the EFCC headquarters where they are now being quizzed.
Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesman for the commission, confirmed the arrest but denied to give further details.
He said: “All I can say is that some arrests were made including the two names you mentioned. But investigations are still on and there is nothing more to tell you at this point.”
Meanwile, a source at the EFCC disclosed that Dokpesi was arrested after detectives established that he got some money from the office of the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki, “without any clear reason”.
“Chief Dokpesi received N2.1 Billion from the NSA’s office but investigators cannot see any clear reason for the payment,” the source stated.
He added that investigators were “suspicious that the money was passed to him as payment for the damaging documentaries and campaigns his station ran on Buhari, Tinubu and Amaechi.
“They believe the funds were budgeted for arms procurement but was diverted to Mr. Dokpesi.”
On his part, Bafarawa, whose son, Sagir, was earlier detained by the anti-corruption commission, was arraigned after investigation showed that he also supposedly got about N4.6 billion from Dasuki’s office with no clear reason for payment.
Detectives said they suspect Sagir acted as front for his father.
However, operatives of the security police are currently interrogating former NSA who was also arrested early on December 1 in connection with the weapons procurement investigation.