The embattled former national security adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has indicted the former president Goodluck Jonathan in the $2 billion arms deal scandal which he, Dasuki, is presently embroiled in.
The Nation reports that Dasuki, who may be arraigned before an Abuja high court on Monday, December 14, 2015, confessed to having handed over the N10 billion given to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination convention delegates to Jonathan’s special assistant on domestic affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa and the aide-de-camp.
The former NSA said the money was given out by the two aides on the directive of Dr Jonathan and that he had nothing to do with it aside from collecting the cash.
Dasuki, protested against the ‘media trial’ he is being subjected to by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arguing that such treatment might jeopardise his defence even as he expressed regrets that he is being put in the open by the EFCC for acting on the instructions of Jonathan, the former commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
In his Statement of Witness/Accused Person which has been filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of his arraignment today, Dasuki said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.
“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10 billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.
“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-IC) for distribution on the instruction of the President.
READ ALSO: Arms Deal Saga: Top 10 People Who Have Been Implicated
“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.
“I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorised the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa
“I have seen the statement of the Zenith Bank account where N5billion was paid. I authorised the following payments, among others: Jabbama Ada Global Nigeria Limited (N400m); R.R. Hospital (N750m); ACACIA Holdings LTD (N1.25b); Barr. I.M. Bala (N150m); African Cable TV (N 350m); Nigerian Defence Academy (N159m); B.B. (N350m); Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (N125,503, 255.11); Coscharis Motors (N119m).
“The payments were meant for various partners as earlier listed. I know Basha Nigeria Limited to be owned by Hon. Bello Matawalle. I authorised the payment of N380million for further disbursement to members of the House of Representatives as campaign contribution. I authorised the payment of N751million to HEIRS BDC Limited for conversion to forex from the account of the NSA. Money was used for operation in the Office of the NSA.
“I have seen the mandate from the CBN signed by me authorising payment of various sums of money to Dalhatu Investment for the reasons earlier stated.
“In respect of funds given to Amb. Bashir Yuguda between December 2014 and 2015, I authorised the payment of N1.5billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser for political campaign in the last elections. I remember paying DAAR Communications the sum of N2.120billion from ONSA for media activities for the Presidential Campaign 2015.”
Meanwhile, Godwin Emiefile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor faces the sack after being implicated in the arms deal and former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, has been tipped to replace him.
The Nation reports that Dasuki, who may be arraigned before an Abuja high court on Monday, December 14, 2015, confessed to having handed over the N10 billion given to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination convention delegates to Jonathan’s special assistant on domestic affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa and the aide-de-camp.
The former NSA said the money was given out by the two aides on the directive of Dr Jonathan and that he had nothing to do with it aside from collecting the cash.
Dasuki, protested against the ‘media trial’ he is being subjected to by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arguing that such treatment might jeopardise his defence even as he expressed regrets that he is being put in the open by the EFCC for acting on the instructions of Jonathan, the former commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
In his Statement of Witness/Accused Person which has been filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of his arraignment today, Dasuki said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.
“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10 billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.
“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-IC) for distribution on the instruction of the President.
READ ALSO: Arms Deal Saga: Top 10 People Who Have Been Implicated
“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.
“I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorised the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa
“I have seen the statement of the Zenith Bank account where N5billion was paid. I authorised the following payments, among others: Jabbama Ada Global Nigeria Limited (N400m); R.R. Hospital (N750m); ACACIA Holdings LTD (N1.25b); Barr. I.M. Bala (N150m); African Cable TV (N 350m); Nigerian Defence Academy (N159m); B.B. (N350m); Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (N125,503, 255.11); Coscharis Motors (N119m).
“The payments were meant for various partners as earlier listed. I know Basha Nigeria Limited to be owned by Hon. Bello Matawalle. I authorised the payment of N380million for further disbursement to members of the House of Representatives as campaign contribution. I authorised the payment of N751million to HEIRS BDC Limited for conversion to forex from the account of the NSA. Money was used for operation in the Office of the NSA.
“I have seen the mandate from the CBN signed by me authorising payment of various sums of money to Dalhatu Investment for the reasons earlier stated.
“In respect of funds given to Amb. Bashir Yuguda between December 2014 and 2015, I authorised the payment of N1.5billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser for political campaign in the last elections. I remember paying DAAR Communications the sum of N2.120billion from ONSA for media activities for the Presidential Campaign 2015.”
Meanwhile, Godwin Emiefile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor faces the sack after being implicated in the arms deal and former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, has been tipped to replace him.
