TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has released Abdullahi Yusuf, senior special assistant to Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno.

Yusuf had, on May 29, published a post saying it was rumoured that a prominent federal lawmaker from Borno may be linked to the N80 billion fraud probe involving Ahmed Idris, the accountant-general of the federation.

Although the aide did not name the lawmaker, supporters of Muktari Betera, a member representing Biu federal constituency, went under the post to allege that he was referring to the lawmaker.

Yusuf was then said to have received an invitation from the EFCC zonal office in Maiduguri.

He was reported to have arrived the EFCC office the next day and was afterwards detained, despite efforts by family members to get him released.

According to a source, Yusuf was released on Friday following the intervention of Zulum.

The governor was said to have called the head of EFCC zonal office, demanding why his aide was detained.

“Our boss told us that the governor called him over the detention of Yusuf. The governor was very furious,” the source said.

“In fact, our boss said the governor was planning to come to the office to meet Yusuf at the EFCC office, before the zonal head assured him that he would be released on Friday morning.”

The EFCC had also reportedly filed charges against Yusuf before a federal high court over breach of the provisions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Act, 2004.

The aide was, however,  not arraigned before his release on Friday.