A credible source at the EFCC has linked former Governor Peter Odili of
Rivers State and a once convicted top member of the PDP, Bode George,
with receiving N100mn each from the embattled former National Security
Adviser (NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
The EFCC source told Sahara Reporters that the largess to the two PDP
officials was diverted from funds meant for the purchase of arms to
equip the Military in its fight against Boko Haram.
Instead, the N200m was diverted and paid to the two PDP chieftains to
utilize for the re-election of the defeated ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan, who eventually lost the presidential election.
A panel appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari is currently
investigating the reported theft of more than $2billion from the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the name of purchasing arms. Dasuki, who has
been re-arrested, initially claimed he stole no funds, adding that
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), Raymond Dokpesi. All the
suspects are being interrogated.
On Wednesday, former NSA Dasuki joined the other suspects at the offices
of the EFCC. Agents of the DSS handed 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 Sahara Reporters that some of the detained
suspects were now providing useful information after almost all of them
initially exhibited resistance.
AIT proprietor, Dokpesi, has asserted that he received funds from the
NSA to run publicity for Jonathan and PDP campaigns. An official of the
EFCC told SR that it was “unbelievable for the NSA to be the person
allocating money for political campaigns.”
Bafarawa, whose detention was approved by a court order, has stated that
he received N4.6billion from Dasuki for "spiritual purposes".
Our EFCC source said their agents were still questioning the former governor to explain what was meant by “spiritual purposes.”
On their parts, the source revealed that
Odili and 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. Dokpesi was
released last night after meeting bail conditions.
