Terry Waya Arrested - Politics

Terry Waya Arrested - Politics - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Terry Waya Arrested (10025 Views)

Terry Waya Arrested by DeepZone(op): 8:26pm On Nov 11, 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

EFCC arrests socialite, Terry Waya
From Florence Oretade, Abuja

UNTIL yesterday, he was a visible high society man even amid allegations that he was a front for some former and serving political office-holders.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested Mr. Terry Waya for his alleged claim that he can assist former governors appease the anti-graft agency to influence their further trial.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, the EFCC's spokesman, who confirmed the development, however, declined further comments, saying that investigations on the issue have begun.

But it was gathered that the commission would soon search his house while his international passport had been seized.

A source close to the Commission said Waya was picked up at his Abuja residence in connection with an alleged claim that he was extorting money from former governors to influence their investigation by the EFCC.

The source said: "He was arrested in connection with a claim by him that he assisted in installing Waziri as the Chairman of the Commission and extorting money from former governors with a promise to help them appease her."

He was also alleged to have been extorting money from incumbent governors as well as with a promise that the EFCC would not touch them.

As at press time, EFCC's investigators were reported to be interrogating him.

Waya had recently stood trial in London for money-laundering following his association with former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha for whom he had also stood surety in a London court.

Meanwhile, Money-Gram International, a global money transfer company, has assured anti-graft agency of its undivided support in the fight against economic fraud in the country.

According to a statement by Babafemi, the institution alongside its agent banks in Nigeria gave the assurance when their officials visited the EFCC Chairman in Abuja. The statement pledged that it would not renege in its commitment to fight fraud and other economic crimes.

Its Regional Compliance Director, Chris Botes, accompanied by some executives on the visit, said: "MoneyGram and its partner banks in Nigeria will continue to pro-actively fight fraud in Nigeria and in specific, guard against being used by trans-national fraud syndicates."

This, he said, would be achieved with the utilisation of modern information technology that automatically screens and filters transactions to counter fraud and money laundering.

He also promised that MoneyGram with its partner banks in Nigeria would proactively identify fraud even as they handle transactions and customers with due skill, due care and due diligence.

He assured of his organisation's willingness to collaborate with EFCC, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other law enforcement agencies and regulators in implementing the anti-money laundering regime in the country.

Speaking earlier while receiving the visitors, Mrs. Waziri had called on MoneyGram and other money transfer companies to take into cognisance the fact that Nigeria was not yet developed technologically hence the need to put in place mechanism to check fraudulent activities involved in transferring money back and forth in the country.

http://odili.net/news/source/2008/nov/11/23.html