His arrest is said not to be unconnected with allegations that he has been extorting huge sums from unsuspecting victims said to be mostly serving and former governors to stave off their possible prosecution by EFCC. Stories have been making the rounds for some time that the socialite, who attracted presidential comments in 2003 when he hosted the cream of Benin Republic's political elite of mostly serving governors to a lavish party in London to celebrate his 40th birthday, has been presenting himself to the unsuspecting governors as ‘front’ for the EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri.

Sources alleged that Waya had capitalised on the fears of his victims and his seeming high connections and the fact that he hails from the same Benue State with Waziri and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa to exploit his victims. Waya was alleged to have made a kill in some cases but one governor from the South-south who refused to play ball was said to have complained to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua about the development, which allegedly prompted his arrest. Waziri had recently denied she had a ‘front’ and asked anybody who had any information about anybody parading himself as her front to make it available to the EFCC. She said the commission would move qui-ckly against such a ‘front’.

Following intelligent rep-orts about his activities, sources said EFCC had been monitoring Waya and his movement until he was picked up yesterday. EFCC Spokesman Femi Babafemi confirmed Waya’s arrest, but declined further comments when THISDAY contacted him last night. “Yes, I can confirm to you that Terry Waya has been arrested and is being interrogated by the commission,” Babafemi told THISDAY over the telephone. Waya’s ways have been somewhat curious. In January 2008, Waya was ordered to pay a £1,540,000 confiscation order at the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom.
The sum is judged to be the benefit of "his criminal activities" and represents the current value of his London property.
He is to pay the full amount within six months or face 30 months imprisonment for default. Waya is also to pay £5,000 prosecution fees within three months.

He had earlier been arrested in November 2005 on suspicion of money laundering and was linked to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamie-yeseigha, who was convicted in Benin Republic for theft and money laundering. In October 2005, Waya offered to pay £500,000 bail security on behalf of Alamieyeseigha in the UK after the former governor was arrested for alleged money laundering by the London Met police. However, enquiries by his bank and the police raised concerns about Waya's finances and the bank decided to close his account. Detective Chief Inspector Sean Wanless of the London Metropolitan Police's Economic and Specialist Crime Command said: "This was a complex investigation, which led to a professional criminal being deprived of the profits of his crime - once again sending a strong message to those involved in criminal activity that crime does not pay. The Met police will be vigorous in the pursuit of those who assist corrupt politically exposed persons."

The London Met subsequently arrested Waya in November 2005 on suspicion of money laundering. Officers from the Met's money laundering investigation team seized a banker's draft for £543,000 from him. This banker’s draft had been sent to him by his bank and represented the closing balance of his accounts. Waya was charged with two counts of obtaining money transfers by deception on September 11, 2006. He was found guilty of obtaining money transfers by deception in relation to a mortgage of £465,000 with G.E. money to buy his London property at 18A Northgate, Prince Albert Road, London. He was said to have given false information in his application about his status, his current employment, date of birth and other details.

The second count relates to a re-mortgage he took out for £838,000 with Birmingham Midshires Bank of which he was found not guilty. On 7th August 2007, he was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court and received 80 hours community service order.
Apart from Alamie-yeseigha, Waya is also known to be close to several other former governors being prosecuted for alleged corruption namely former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba states respectively.

By Kingsley Nwezeh and Ali M. Ali.
Culled from ThisDay Newspapers