The stolen billions: Did Dasuki, Okonjo-Iweala run GEJ’s errands?

In from Olumide Olaoluwa . . .

These are truly seasons of heart-rending revelations. Nigerians wake up each day to distressing news of how much was allegedly looted by the last administration. The figures are as mind-boggling as damning. First, there were the N2.1billion arms funds diverted to media mogul, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Dokpesi confessed receiving the money but claimed it was meant for media publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the presidential election.
If that was distressing, the discovery of another N8.7 billion from the federal government on 27 January 2012 for the broadcast right of the under-17 World Cup by the same Dokpesi is shattering.

There was no evidence the federal government was a party to the broadcast agreement over which the Edo-born owner of DAAR Communications collected the fund.
And as Nigerians are still trying to wrap their heads around how such lump sums could be so callously frittered away, a former Minister of State for Transport Bashir Yuguda who is currently facing corruption charges began to mention names that got a slice of the alleged $2b arms deal.
Speaking with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Yuguda said he gave a total of N600million cash to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilization Committee of the PDP for the 2015 general election.

He claimed that among those who benefitted from the largesse were Bode George (South-West); Amb. Yerima Abdullahi (North-East); Peter Odili (South-South); Attahiru Bafarawa (North-West); Jim Nwobodo (South -East); and Ahmadu Ali (North-Central).

But all these seem to small fry compared to revelations that are still coming to light concerning the role of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki as investigators have confirmed that he received N61.4 billion ($300 million and £5.5 million) from funds recovered from late dictator, Sani Abacha under the pretence of “special services”.
The fund was approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan following a letter from the then Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on January 20, 2015 just few weeks to the last presidential election.

50 per cent of the recovered loot was meant for “urgent security need” such as the procurement of arms and ammunition and the other half set aside for development purposes.
Yet, Dasuki pocketed all in one fell scoop reportedly to procure arms and ammunition for the ongoing Boko Haram insurgence. Military authorities have since found out no arms were purchased despite the huge allocation.

For all intent and purpose, the allocation ended up in private pockets for prosecution of the PDP’s campaign for the presidential election.
Former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shuaibu Salisu, further nauseated Nigerians on Thursday when he disclosed that he delivered another $47million withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 11 suit cases to Dasuki.

Read also: Dasuki got $47m in 11 suitcases, court told

Again, Okonjo-Iweala authenticated the transaction following instructions from Jonathan.

Salisu, who spoke as a witness in an Abuja court, believed the cash was meant to prosecute the PDP campaigns in the last general elections.
In his confession statement to investigators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Salisu said: “I could remember on the 20/11/2014, I was directed by the NSA, M.S Dasuki, to go to the CBN and collect the sum of $47m in cash and the balance in Euro and the directive was obeyed and the monies were delivered to the NSA in about 11 suit cases.
“I think the monies were meant for PDP. After delivery, I left. I did not see or know when the money was distributed.

“I did not benefit even one cent. The request for the funds was tag (sic) special services signed by the NSA, M.S Dasuki, addressed to the Governor of CBN.
“I did not know the source of the money into our CBN Account. The foreign currencies that I collected from the CBN were delivered to the NSA in his house, No. 13, John Kadiya Street, Asokoro.”
In another April 10, 2015 letter, BPSD/CRC/GEN/FMF/01/36 by the Banking and Payment System Department, the CBN authenticated payment mandate of N10billion to the ONSA for preparation for gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.

Signed by the CBN Director, Banking and Payments System Department, the letter reads: “In accordance with your letters, Ref. No. HMF/FMF/082.FI5276.7 and F.15276 respectively on the above subject, we forward herewith the following mandate for authentication.
Mandate Ref. FD/LP(9/4/2015)-N5,000,000,000 to the National Security Adviser Account No. 0029172241019, CBN; another N5,000,000,000 to National Security Adviser Account No. 1014199287, Zenith Bank K-City Plaza, Wuse 11 Abuja.
“Purpose of Payment: “Being amount released to the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) from the Signatory Bonus Account in Preparation for the forthcoming Gubernatorial/State Assembly Elections as approved by AGF.

“The Honourable Minister may wish to authenticate this mandate to enable the CBN remit the fund.”
Okonjo-Iweala, according to available evidence, simply replied: “Authenticated” and signed.
Delegates of the PDP Presidential Primary Elections allegedly received the N10billion.

Others indicted in the slush include ex-Minister of Finance Bashir Yuguda; Salisu; former Executive Director of NNPC, Aminu Baba Kusa; former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa; Sagir Attahiru, Dalhatu Investment Limited, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

Other discoveries by EFCC operatives aided by Department of State Security (DSS) are alleged N13.570 billion “agreement” between Dasuki and the ex-Director of Finance; transfer of N1.45b to Acacia Holdings Limited’s account for special prayers; and N2.1b given to DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited for publicity.
There are also N170m for a four-bedroom duplex; N380m to support re-election of members of the House of Representatives; and N750m paid into Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s account for special prayers; N670m paid to a publisher; N260m transferred to Tony Anenih and N345million traced to a former President of the Senate, Iyorchia Ayu.

All of these loots were diverted for the last general elections at a time soldiers were dropping dead on a per minute basis at the warfronts in the North-East against terrorists. Many of the grossly-equipped soldiers protested and refused to fight, claiming they were being sent on a suicide mission.

Rather than equip and motivate them, military authorities decided to prosecute them. Many were fired for alleged insubordination.

Certainly, the reelection bid of former President Jonathan and other PDP officials was the paramount to the last administration. The death of soldiers and crippled infrastructure mattered little to them.

They were busy looting and raping the nation blind, amassing incredible wealth to bribe voters and manipulate the process in their favour.

Had the plot succeeded, Nigerians would never have known how much the PDP and its chieftains had ripped off their commonwealth. The ‘Yam eaters’ cared nothing for the miseries and agonies of Nigerians’. They simply wanted power at all costs and spared nothing to grab it.

Human rights activist, Femi Aborishade, said the recent revelations should make right-thinking people throw up.

“It is amazing how much people can till the nation’s coffers just for elections. Aside from the death of Nigerians during campaigns and electioneering, we lost more in terms of our national resources.

“These figures are killing and the looters must face the music. They must never get away with this kind of madness looting.”

You may also like: $2.1b arms scandal: ACF, other northern groups want Jonathan arrested

Constitutional lawyer, Shittu Wahab, said the development is a low moment for Nigerians.

“If they can loot that much just to win elections, one can imagine how much they have done in the past and would have done had they won.

“The law has to take its course and one hopes their ongoing prosecution is speedy and conclusive in a way that will send the right signals to politicians not to think of tinkering with our commonwealth.”

The revelations remain staggering; the figures keep skyrocketing. Only time will tell how much truly Nigerians lost to the 2015 highly expensive general elections.

But for now, many Nigerians are of the conviction that these mind-bugling thefts were carried out under the watch of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and that it could not have been possible without his overt or covert approval.

They argue that it was either the former number one citizen was privy to these wrongdoings, or he was just too weak to do anything against it. It is very implausible that he was totally ignorant of the goings-on. Whatever the reason may be, one thing is clear. Had the PDP plans for the 2015 elections gone as planned by the plunderers, Jonathan would have been the chief beneficiary, in terms of being re-elected.

It is probably for this reason that some northern groups have called on EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to pick him up for interrogation, arguing that he should also be held accountable for the crimes of the suspects as the President of the country at the time.

According to the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, there are many questions begging for answer which Jonathan and the immediate past Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, should give answers to.

Nigerians want answers, as to how such stupendous sums of money were budgeted for elections while hunger and suffering pervaded the land, at a time infrastructures and facilities like power were in shambles, and insecurity made Nigerians cower in fear.

What do you think, should Jonathan be called upon to explain his part in all these, and how can Nigeria avoid such a thing in the future?

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now