Nigerian authorities have arrested one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Salisu Mamman, and have detained him and his gang at the Federal Prison in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of fraud, name-dropping, forgery and attempt to swindle some unsuspecting businessmen.
THEWILL exclusively gathered that the gang led by Mamman obtained money from the individuals on the pretext that he will introduce them to the President and use his very close relations with him and purported ties with Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, to help them secure crude oil allocations as well as licences to import petroleum products. The scam blew up when the businessmen’s companies were not amongst those awarded oil contracts by the NNPC.
Confirming this development to THEWILL, impeccable presidential sources who opted to remain anonymous over the tricky nature of the matter said, “Mr. President has been briefed on the involvement of his nephew in the alleged crime, but he is insisting not to have anything to do with it.”
“He has already directed the agency in charge to go ahead with the prosecution of his nephew and the others, directing that if found guilty, they should be punished accordingly.”
The insider, who noted that the President has come under some form of pressure from family and friends to intervene, quotes him as maintaining that “he, President Muhammadu Buhari, is not going to call anybody to intervene on the matter.” The source added that the President kept telling those calling for his intervention that the law must be allowed to take its course.
Meanwhile, Mamman and his band have since last week when they were arrested remained detained at the prison facility in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, awaiting their day in court.
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