Ex presidential aide Reuben Abati & ex FCT minister Bala Mohammed arrested by EFCC

A former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has been arrested. Mr. Abati, who was spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was arrested on Monday and is expected to spend at least Monday night at the office of the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

The journalist is being questioned for allegedly receiving some money from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, EFCC sources said.

Mr. Dasuki is currently being tried by the EFCC for his management of arms funds under him , in what is now known as #Dasukigate.

Mr. Abati’s arrest makes it at least three former aides of Mr. Jonathan who are currently in EFCC custody.

A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, is still with the commission since last week Monday when he voluntarily surrendered himself after staying months away from the country.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Jonathan campaign spokesperson, was arrested on Friday and is still with the commission.

Also, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Bala Mohammed

Details of Mr. Mohammed’s arrest remained fuzzy as at the time of filing this report, but sources confirmed was in detention at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday night.

“Yes, we have him in our custody,” a source said.

Another source said Mr. Mohammed’s detention was still being processed at about 8:45 p.m. on Monday. He is expected to spend at least Monday night at the commission’s office.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Mr. Mohammed, a former senator from Bauchi State, served as the Minister of the FCT under President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010-15.

An anti-corruption crackdown launched by the Muhammadu Buhari administration shortly after assuming office last year had seen dozens of the Jonathan administration officials and associates arrested for corruption.

Alongside Mr. Mohammed, others in EFCC custody as at Monday night were Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister of state for defence; Femi Fani-Kayode, a spokesperson for Mr. Jonathan’s re-election campaign last year, and Reuben Abati, the former president’s spokesperson while in office.