By Emma Ovuakporie
ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arrested Jigawa State Accountant-General, Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, three Permanent Secretaries and two Local Government Chairmen in Kwara State over alleged diversion of N25 billion local government funds.

Sources close to the anti-graft agency told Vanguard that the officials of both states were arrested yesterday in their respective states.

Those currently in the net of the anti-graft body are Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Saliu Mamuda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Ado Ahmed, Accountant General, Sani Ahmed Jahun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Adamu Muazu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Engr. Datti Ahmed, all officials, of Jigawa State government.

Jigawa State government is allegedly involved in a N15 billion local government fund scam, while its Kwara counterpart is alleged to be neck deep in a N12 billion local government fund fraud.

Two local government chairmen that were arrested by EFCC operatives yesterday in Kwara include Irepodun Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Bada, and Elder James Olaniyi of Oke- Ero L.G.A.

The Police Commissioner of Kwara State, Alhaji Muntari Ibrahim, had yesterday addressed a press conference confirming that EFCC operatives were in the state and solicited the co-operation of government officials with the operatives.

It would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had embarked on operation show your state of finance in states perceived to be neck deep in the diversion of local government funds and had received a plethora of petitions from well meaning Nigerians regarding the alleged culpability of some state top officials.

Such states include Jigawa, Kwara, Imo and Rivers adjudged to be in the forefront in the alleged diversion of local government funds.

When contacted, Head, Media and Publicity, of the anti-graft agency, Mr Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrests of the officials.