The immediate past National Security Advicer, Col Sambo Dasuki, rtd, has opened a can of worms regarding the $2bn arms deal, saying the money was shared among some ex-governors, Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Ministers, The Nation reports.
DAILY POST recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and a Federal Government committee are investigating the disappearance of $2bn meant for the procurement of arms during the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
In a bid to unravel the mysterious disappearance of the fund, Dasuki was on Tuesday arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, and was later transferred to the EFCC.
A source from the EFCC who spoke with The Nation Newspaper on the revelation made by Dasuki, said: “When Dasuki was brought in, he initially refused to write any statement, alleging that he had been subjected to media trial.
“I think the ex-NSA decided not to open up based on the advice of his lawyers that he should leave everything for the open court.
“The EFCC operatives, however, obliged Dasuki a copy of the statement by a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Shaibu Salisu in which the latter made some implicating statements.
“Dasuki, who was shocked by Salisu’s confessions, repeatedly asked: ‘You mean Salisu wrote all these! You mean he said these! Give me a pen and paper’.
“Thereafter, Dasuki decided to open a can of worms. He gave a long list of PDP chieftains who collected money from the Office of the NSA.
“He mentioned the names of a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, ex-governors and ex-ministers and many others.
“As I am talking to you, Dasuki is still writing his statement. The disclosures of the ex-Director of Finance in ONSA have assisted greatly in getting to the bottom of the armsgate.
“So, the investigation is still on. We will certainly arrest more suspects soon.”
Following this revelation by Dasuki, the anti-graft agency is said to be getting ready to quiz all those involved in the $9m cash seized by South Africa.
The report also quoted another source from the commission who pleaded anonymity said some suspects had admitted to collecting huge sums of money from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA while Dasuki was at the helm of affirs.
“Our investigators have isolated these areas of probe: Were the funds budgeted for? If not, what informed extra-budgetary expenses? How much was actually voted for arms procurement? How were the funds sourced? Who or which agency awarded all the contracts? Who were the contractors? Was there any evidence of delivery of equipment? What will make any Minister to run to ONSA for funds?
“These are the areas our detectives have been mandated to look at.”
On other suspects, the source explained that some of the diverted funds had been traced to a bureau de change owned by a former member of the staff of the ONSA.
“Some Bureau de Change operators were accomplices of many of these suspects in custody. We are tracking every transaction.
“On daily basis, we will keep on inviting more suspects because the syndicate has a complex networking,” the source added.
Comments