Some revelations emerged last night that an American recently arrested by the State Security Service in connection with alleged acts of espionage and terrorism in the Niger Delta, milked billions of naira from former governors of the restive region and multinational oil companies in the name of helping to build peace.

The woman, Mrs. Judith Asuni, who was arrested alongside two German journalists, is said to have enjoyed unfettered connection within top government functionaries of the immediate past administration who provided cover for her, in which she allegedly coerced the governors and oil companies to sponsor her activities.

Competent sources within the security outfit told LEADERSHIP in Abuja, "The most damning revelation is how she attempted to penetrate the nation's security system. Classified and sensitive information was found in her possession. It was discovered that she was running an espionage network for some countries. She is also believed to be the source of information to some American and western election observers that made them to conclude the 2007 elections were flawed."

SSS source confided in our correspondent that Asuni's stock in trade was the stage-managing of hirelings as militants whereby hired youths who posed as militants, were filmed just as was alleged in the case of the sacked CNN reporter, Jeff Koinange.

Asuni, the prime mover of the NGO known as the Academic Associates Peace Works, was said to have started her pet project in Ibadan before moving into the oil-rich Niger Delta where she allegedly made a fortune by collecting heavy sums of money from the governors and oil companies under the guise of promoting peace.

According to the source, she had also penetrated embassies and hobnobbed with hostage takers, cult elements and other militant youths, especially in Bayelsa and River states.

The source confirmed that the two Germans she brought to the country are journalists, but they disguised as NGO officials to obtain visas to enter Nigeria.

"You know, as journalists, they cannot be issued visas without a concrete reason and the permit of their employers, and so they came as officials of AAPW, which made it easier for them to leave their country.

"Asuni is found to have collected huge sums of money from all her victims, which included governors, oil companies and embassies," the source alleged.

Asuni was arrested with the Germans whom she was said to have brought into the country to illegally film and interview youth groups in an arranged fashion so as to create a fake situation of an escalating problem, and which the SSS described as "undermining and embarrassing to the national interest".

Even though her German collaborators have been released, Asuni, who is said to have parted ways with her Nigerian husband 20 years ago, is still in the custody of the security agency.

Efforts by our correspondent to get her reaction was not successful as she is still in detention. LEADERSHIP could not also ascertain who is her lawyer, as she is yet to be taken to court because investigation is still going on.