A source at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has linked
former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and a once convicted top
member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, with receiving N100
million each from the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo
Dasuki (ret.).
The EFCC source told SaharaReporters that the
largess to the two PDP officials was diverted from funds meant for the
purchase of arms in order to better equip the Nigerian military in its
campaign against Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.
Instead, the
N200 million paid to the two PDP stalwarts was designed to ensure the
re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost the
presidential election held on March 28, 2015.
A panel appointed
by President Muhammadu Buhari is currently investigating the reported
theft of more than $2 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in
the name of purchasing arms. Mr. Dasuki, who was arrested yesterday,
initially claimed he stole no funds, adding that Mr. Jonathan approved
all his expenses related to arms deals. However, his position changed
soon as he was confronted with the statement written by his former
director of finance, Shuaibu Salisu who had squealed on all those
involved in the scam to investigators.
Nigerian law enforcement
agents have so far arrested twenty one persons in relation to the arms
purchase scandal. Those under detention or arrest include former senior
staff of the office of the National Security Adviser, a former state
governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and the owner of African Independent
Television (AIT) network, Raymond Dokpesi. All the arrested suspected
are being interrogated in connection with money laundering.
Yesterday,
the former NSA, Mr. Dasuki, joined the other suspects at the offices of
the EFCC. Agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) handed Mr.
Dasuki over to EFCC operatives who have begun questioning him on how he
allegedly diverted funds meant for arms purchase into Mr. Jonathan’s
re-election campaign.
An EFCC investigator told SaharaReporters
that some of the detained suspects were now providing useful information
after almost all of them initially exhibited resistance.
AIT
proprietor, Mr. Dokpesi, has openly asserted that he received funds from
the NSA to run publicity for the Jonathan and PDP campaigns. An
official of the EFCC told SaharaReporters that it was “unbelievable for
the NSA [National Security Adviser] to be the person allocating money
for political campaigns.”
Mr. Bafarawa, whose detention was
approved by a court order, has stated that he received N4.6 billion from
Mr. Dasuki for “spiritual purposes.” Our EFCC source said their agents
were still questioning the former governor to explain what was meant by
“spiritual purposes.”
Our source revealed that Mr. Odili and Mr.
George “may soon be invited to explain why they received N100 million
each from funds budgeted for arms purchase.”
Those still in EFCC
detention as at last night are as follows: Shuaibu Salisu, Abba MT
Usman, Sagir Attahiru, Evegny Kundaev, Aminu Baba Kusa, Salisu Usman
Garu, Bashir Yuguda, Attahiru Bafarawa. Mr. Dokpesi was released last
night after meeting bail conditions.
The case of Bode George is
instructive, at a thanksgiving service held by him after his release
from prison in 2011 in Lagos a Lagos priest delivering a sermon
entitled, ‘A minister and a witness,’ Venerable Tayo Aduloju had this to
say according to Punch newspaper: “If you are involved in any shady
deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any
form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your
experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It
does not belong to any president.
“As from today, you are
expected to represent Christ. You are an ambassador of Christ. Never
again will the name of God be soiled through you.”
Aduloju also charged politicians to shun thuggery, rigging and avarice so as to return the country on the path of decency.
He said, “Shun thuggery. Shun violence. Shun greed. Shun rigging and whatever that can cause trouble.”
Mr. George later denounced this priest at a press conference.
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