SSS releases member of Buhari’s arms probe panel after 5 months detention

Forum 7 years ago

SSS releases member of Buhari’s arms probe panel after 5 months detention

The State Security Service on Friday released a former member of the Presidential Investigative Committee on Arms Procurement, Muhammed Umar.


Mr. Umar, a retired air commodore, was arrested by the SSS in June for alleged money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.
He was granted bail by an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in July, with a bond of N100 million.


PREMIUM TIMES had in June reported how Mr. Buhari ordered Mr. Umar’s arrest after receiving a damning report on him from the SSS.


The court order for Mr. Umar’s bail was however flouted by the SSS which continued to detain him despite the trial judge, Nnamdi Dimgba, condemning the agency’s action.
Mr. Dimgba was one of the judges whose homes were raided by the SSS in October. Unlike seven other judges, he was, however, not arrested or detained by the security agency.


PREMIUM TIMES gathered that when the matter came up in court on Thursday, Mr. Dimgba vowed not to continue hearing on the matter until the SSS obeys his bail order.
Following Mr. Dimgba’s threat on Thursday, the SSS released the commodore on Friday, sources told PREMIUM TIMES.
The SSS currently has no spokesperson to be reached for comments.