Why we arrested senator’s son living in building occupied by Atiku’s sons – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has disclosed that the arrest  of Ogbonna Orji, son of Senator Theodore Orji, a former Governor of Abia state, has nothing to do with the sons of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for next year’s election.

The EFCC stated its position in a statement on Monday.

It said Ogbonna was arrested for alleged money laundering.

The anti-graft agency accused Senator Orji of laundering fund through his son.

The Eagle Online had earlier on Monday reported the arrest of Orji’s son in his Maitama residence in Abuja.

According to available information, Ogbonna and his brother, Chiemeka, were asked by the operatives who stormed the residential building to take them to the apartment where Mustapha and Aliyu Abubakar resided.

The said they had information that the former vice president stashes money there.

But both Mustapha and Aliyu are out of the country for their Master’s programme.

Both Ogbonna and Chiemeka were taken to the headquarters of the EFCC for interrogation, with two of their cars seized.

But reacting to the development, the EFCC said: “The recent arrest of Ogbonna Orji, son of Sen. Theodore Orji, over money laundering, has absolutely nothing to do with son of ex-VP Atiku Abubakar.

“The former Abia governor has been under investigations by the EFCC, for money laundering activities, which was discovered to have been carried out through his sons.

“The EFCC had been on the trail of cars allegedly bought by the sons, and last Friday the cars were traced to a night club in Abuja, where operatives waited patiently through the night to arrest the owners – Ogbonna and his friend, Kelvin Ilonah.

“They were arrested at about 5am on Saturday, and they led operatives to their three-flat apartment, where documents retrieved showed that it was rented at a rate of N13 million per annum.

“They have so far given useful information to the EFCC, which is aiding in investigations. It should be made clear that the EFCC never ‘went after’ Atiku’s sons, neither was Atiku’s son arrested by the EFCC.”