Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency has stated the Managing Director of Engineers & Planners, Ibrahim Mahama did not intervene in Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters’s arrest.
According to reports, Ibrahim Mahama intervened in the Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters’s arrest to calm him down when National Security operatives tried to arrest Peters at the Aurora Apartments in Kanda.
Mustapha Gbande, however, claimed that Ibrahim Mahama heard about the disturbance because he is a resident there and drove to the location he explained the situation to him and he later greeted Benedict Peters.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News, Mustapha Gbande stated, “The story that Ibrahim Mahama intervened is untrue. Many people live there, and Ibrahim Mahama heard about the disturbance because he is a resident.
He drove straight to the location, only to find us there. He called me outside, asked about the situation, and I explained to him. At that time, we were about to move Mr. Peters to the police station. He greeted Peters, as they are friends, and then he drove off”, Gbande clarified.
Gbande added”, National Security did not take part in this operation at all. As soon as we had arrested him, the Regional Police Commander and the Divisional Police Commander arrived and took over the matter”.
According to reports, Mr Peters was arrested by a joint operation by National Security Operatives led by Richard Jakpa, the Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, the police and the military.
Reports suggest the Nigerian businessman has been arrested together with some 25 others who were also detained.
The information gathered reveals Benedict Peters is a fugitive from the Nigerian Government for criminal activities including corruption.
Ben Peters was arrested for blocking the entrance to the residential facility with his vehicles, preventing access to other residents of the apartment complex.
One elated resident, identified as Jacob Asamoah stated, “Today we are extremely happy and grateful to President Mahama and his government for this big move. They have done us a great deal of good and this residential area will see some sanity, after several years. That Peters guy is a fugitive. He is wanted in Nigeria and should be deported there immediately to face justice. He has terrorized us for far too long”
“He has used the place as a brothel, a night club and avenue for perpetrating various criminal activities in the full glare of the law enforcement agencies who have benefited from his dubious largesse. We are happy that under this government, National Security, the Military and the Police are all involved, and the fact that he has been smoked out of hiding and apprehended, gives us hope that peace has come to stay in this area”, he stated.
Mustapha Gbande, Deputy Director of Operations at the Jubilee House detailed, “We went there, and indeed, the group, numbering about 60 to 70, had flooded the area. His men were dressed in black suits and white shirts with sirens on their pick-up trucks”.
“I was wondering why a private individual would have such power in our country to flout our laws, act with impunity, and render citizens helpless. It is unlawful, so he was handed over to the police for further questioning”
“About 20 to 25 individuals were arrested, including Ben Peters and another white man who was found in his apartment when we arrived,” Mr Gbande stated.
According to Gbande, police motorbikes and an SUV were found while attempting to arrest Peters from one of the apartments in the estate.
Mr Gbande revealed, “Allegedly, this is the man who President Akufo-Addo used to run the COVID infrastructure project. He was the one managing the office, handling COVID infrastructure, the same individual everyone was paying.”
“We cannot allow foreigners to treat us with such disregard. We shouldn’t run a country where individuals can hold an entire community to ransom”, he emphasised.
Watch the video below:
National Security Operations: The story that Ibrahim Mahama came to intervene during the arrest of Nigerian businessman, Ben Peters was untrue – Mustapha Gbande.#ThePulse pic.twitter.com/v1vbYerCkR
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