The American lady, Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni, arrested with two Germans on suspicion of spying in the Niger Delta, may have been found culpable.
The two Germans said to be journalists have been cleared of any involvement in the espionage case being investigated by the State Security Services (SSS) and have been released.
Intelligence sources told THISDAY in Abuja yesterday that SSS investigation so far has shown that the woman has a case to answer.
And this is why Asuni is still being held at the SSS headquarters in Abuja, said a security source.
�Ongoing investigations have revealed unbelievable wide spy network being run by the lady,� the source said, while also confirming that the American Embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from the woman as the embassy was not willing to defend her.
According to sources, Asuni was said to have deceived the two German journalists who were coming to Nigeria to report on the Niger Delta crisis to apply as working for her non-governmental organisation (NGO) as she reportedly claimed they would be denied visas if they applied as journalists.
The journalists� acquiescence to this was said to be their only involvement in the matter.
SSS Spokesman, Ado Muazu, told THISDAY that the journalists had been left off the hook after it was established that the American lady who is still being held tricked them into the deal.
Investigations also revealed that the woman who was said to be very close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo used his name to coerce, intimidate and harass people to clear road for her numerous deals including collection of money from oil companies (Shell and Chevron) and state governments in the Niger Delta region.
Aside Obasanjo, former governors of Rivers and Delta States, Peter Odili and James Ibori, were also known to have come in contact with the woman.
Among the activities that landed her in trouble was the alleged unholy and questionable romance with hostage takers, cult members and militias in Bayelsa State.
She is also alleged to have stage-managed a phony hostage taking aimed at embarrassing the Nigerian Government.
THISDAY learnt yesterday that President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua was briefed on the development at the weekend.
It was also learnt that SSS investigation confirmed an unbelievable level of penetration of top government functionaries, oil companies and embassies by the lady.
Tactics allegedly employed by Asuni included dropping names of prominent persons; intimidation and collection of sensitive information on the activities of government.
She was also said to have brazenly exploited the crisis in the Niger Delta and was believed to have coerced some Niger Delta governors into sponsoring her activities.
Oil companies are said to have paid billions of naira to sponsor her activities like seminars, conflict management talks all in the name of peace making which is the official and stated aim of her NGO, the Academic Associates Peace Work, which began in Ibadan, Oyo State, a few years ago. She has since changed from peace making to what some intelligence experts called �conflict entrepreneur.�
The most intriguing revelation, according to sources, is the alleged attempt by the woman to penetrate the nation�s security system.
From the classified and sensitive information alleged to be in her possession, security sources concluded she must be running an espionage network.
�What is unmistakable is that she must be running an espionage network for some countries,� one security source said.
SSS had last week confirmed the arrest of three foreigners, one American and two Germans, for espionage in the Niger Delta.
The Germans, Florian Alexander Opitz (34) and Andy Lehmann (33), were arrested on Friday September 21 2007 in Ogbe Ijoh Community in Warri, Delta State where they were filming masked Ijaw youths.
Oct22007