How Chris Uba was arrested by DSS days before postponed polls

By Ayo Oke

Details have emerged on how Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Chris Uba was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) days before the postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier scheduled for February 16.

Our correspondent gathered that Chris Uba, who is a senatorial candidate for the PDP in the Anambra south senatorial district race, was arrested by the DSS for money laundering.

The money found in possession of Chris Uba, was the sum of $2.5 million, said to have been funds budgeted by his party to secure votes of Anambra electorates through vote buying.

Chris Uba was said to have been arrested on his way to Anambra state from Lagos and he spent a night in a police cell in Lagos before being taken to Abuja in handcuffs by the DSS operatives.

The PDP chieftain was however left off the hook after the intervention of the former governor of Abia state and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr Orji Uzor-Kalu.

Kalu, who is presently facing corruption charges with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is said to be a bosom friend of Chris Uba.

Kalu reportedly used his connections in the presidency to secure the release of Chris Uba, claiming that the PDP chieftain was working for the president, whereas Chris Uba was working for the president’a main rival in the presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Kalu also told the DSS that Chris Uba was working for the presidency, claiming that any attempt to prosecute Chris Uba would get the attention of the presidency and possibly embarrass the person of the president. Kalu’s insistence arm-twisted the DSS into releasing the PDP chieftain.

A source in the know said efforts are being made to get President Muhammadu Buhari’s attention to the scandal.

The source who chose to be anonymous because he is not authorised to speak on such matters said, ”Some APC chieftains are making efforts to bring President Buhari’s attention to the scandal.

”This is clearly an anti-party activity by Uzor-Kalu and it undermines the anti-corruption campaign of the president.

”The money found with Chief Chris Uba was for vote buying, which any committed APC chieftain should report to the authorities as it affects our party’s chances, instead of shielding him from facing the full wrath of the law.”

It is not clear what steps the president would take when the matter finally gets to his table.

Efforts to get the reactions of Chris Uba and Dr Kalu proved abortive as their media aides did not pick their calls.