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Jonathan opens up at last, says Dasuki did not steal $2.2bn

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Despite Buhari’s claims, Jonathan gives himself the thumbs up

In what is his first public statement of the travails of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, former President Goodluck Jonathan has defended him, saying it was not possible for him to have stolen $2.2billion funds meant for arms.

The former President stated this while answering questions after delivering a lecture at the Oxford Union, United Kingdom, asking where his administration got money to buy the military hardwares it bought if Dasuki stole the money.

Jonathan, said: “They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion. We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion, so where did we get the money to buy all those things?

“Yes, there were some issues. Yes, there are still corruption issues but some of it were over blown. I’d say exaggerated and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible.”

Read also: Jonathan gives himself pass mark in fight against corruption

Speaking further, the former President said he would rather allow the courts to decide on the cases that are in court so as not to appear as interesting with the legal process.

“I don’t want to be seen a former president challenging what the sitting government is doing so I have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into them.

“You will see that it has become a major topic whenever there is a change of government … I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria, there is corruption. If you look at corruption there is almost no country that is free, the degree varies, the perception varies.

“Transparency International talks about the way corruption is being perceived in different economies, why do we talk about the way corruption is being perceived, it depends on the issue raised in the media every day.”

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0 Comments

  1. yanju omotodun

    October 25, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    Why is Jonathan now talking all this while he kept quiet about the issue?
    If he is sure dasuki never stole the money, then he should serve as witness for him in court.

    • Amarachi Okoye

      October 26, 2016 at 5:02 am

      Jonathan should not be far from his vice because dasuki need him to stand for him so that the Court can grant him bail. If truly Jonathan is sure of dasuki not stealing 2. 2billion dollar then he most be present

  2. JOHNSON PETER

    October 25, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    As a matter of concern, this Jonathan’s statement is worth analysing. How can someone stole 2.2billion dollar?
    But the money dasuki shared if cumulated is almost close to that. The one he gave metuh, obanikoro and others. But in a similar view,could it be that Jonathan just said this to trigger public opinion?
    Because he ought to have said something since about dasukigate. I need comments.

    • Margret Dickson

      October 25, 2016 at 5:28 pm

      Sincerely, I’m beginning to think Jonathan is truly daft. This irresponsible statement that he didn’t believe Dasuki stole $2.2bn is only going to trigger more questions. I see why multiple corruption cases passed under his nose without doing anything when he was the president.

      • Amaka Okoro

        October 26, 2016 at 5:31 am

        Don’t say that Jonathan is better than buhari when it come to corruption. Buhari him self is corrupt before stepping in as the president. If there is multiple corruption cases passing under someone nose it should be buhari not Jonathan

  3. Animashaun Ayodeji

    October 25, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    Well, I think EFCC needs to invite Jonathan for questioning too, he knows about the whereabouts of the money. He needs to tell the EFCC what he knows in details

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