Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has reportedly exposed what the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, bought with his share of the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund for the Nigerian armed forces.
The Nation reports that the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, December 15, arraigned the former NSA before a federal high court in Abuja, where he is currently undergoing trial.
The Federal Government through an agent of the EFCC, Hassan Saidu, explained to the court that Dasuki, who is on trial was involved in various activities that bordered on economic sabotage, compromise of the nation’s security and endangering the lives of Nigerian soldiers fighting members of the Boko Haram sect in the Northern part of the country.
It said EFCC’s investigation had revealed that the former NSA allegedly diverted huge amount of money earmarked for the nation’s security, and bought properties in foreign cities like, Dubai and London.
He warned the court against granting Dasuki bail on the grounds that he could be attacked by relatives of ill-equipped soldiers that died in the war against Boko Haram sect due to his alleged diversion of monies meant for buying arms and ammunition for the military.
He further revealed that investigation had been stepped up to locate Dasuki’s other assets in foreign countries and confirm where the yet to be located stolen funds are kept outside the country.
This stance was contained in a counter affidavit filed by the anti-graft against the bail application of the former NSA. It was reported that the affidavit was deposed to by Saidu, who told the court that he is part of the team investigating Dasuki.
“The offences being alleged against the defendant/applicant border on economic sabotage that strikes at the very foundation of Nigeria’s wellbeing and existence.
“The security of the Nigerian nation was compromised and the lives of innocent Nigerian soldiers in the battlefront against terrorists were endangered on account of diversion of funds meant for the security of the nation by the applicant herein.
“It is in the interest of justice to put the applicant in protective custody so as to protect him from a possible attack by the relatives of the innocent soldiers who lost their lives due to lack of adequate equipment and facilities caused by the diversion of the funds meant for that purpose.
“Apart from the cases that are pending against the applicant, he is also being investigated in respect of other criminal allegations. The applicant acquired a large volume of assets with the proceeds of crimes and my team is currently tracing the assets and, if released on bail, the applicant will interfere with the asset tracing activities.
“The applicant transferred huge sums of monies to various companies, whose identifies we are still trying to trace. And, if released on bail, the applicant will interfere and frustrate our investigation. Our investigation also revealed that the applicant transferred large sums of monies outside Nigeria and he acquired several assets in Dubai and London with these funds.
“The prosecution is prepared to prove its case within the shortest possible time if the application is refused and the court orders accelerated hearing,” Saidu said.
Dasuki, who is being investigated over the procurement of arms for the armed forces from 2007 to 2015, had on Monday, December 14, filed for bail after pleading not guilty to the 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC). The former NSA was accused of using his office to award fabricated arms contracts, but he has rejected the accusation, saying that the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan approved all the contracts he awarded.
No comments:
Post a Comment