Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, ex-Governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Bafarawa and four others were re-arraigned yesterday before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama over their alleged involvement in the diversion of N13 billion meant to buy arms for the military.
Others are Sagir (Bafarawa’s son), a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, an ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and a firm linked to Sagir – Dalhatu Investment.
They were earlier arraigned on the same charge before another judge of the court, Justice Peter Affen.
Their re-arraignment before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf yesterday was informed by the transfer of the case to Justice Yusuf’s court.
Another case on related issue involving Dasuki and some other set of people is also pending before Justice Yusuf.
Both cases are now to be tried by the same judge.
Yesterday, Dasuki was brought to court from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), where he is being held since his arrest in 2015.
Dasuki and others pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge when it was read to them yesterday.
The charge was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They are charged with criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and misappropriation of about N13 billion.
After the defendants pleaded to the charge, defence lawyers, including Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to allow their clients to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
Raji, who represented Dasuki, urged the judge to re-affirm the bail with respect to his client for the purpose of restating it to the DSS that has refused to release his client despite meeting the bail conditions.
Lead prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed Raji’s application, arguing that it was unnecessary.
In a ruling, Justice Yusuf noted that he had earlier ruled that the EFCC was not in disobedience of the court orders granting bail to Dasuki, as the ex-NSA was being held by another agency, which was not involved in the case.
He granted the defence lawyers’ request that the defendants be allowed to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
The judge adjourned to February 24 for the beginning of trial.
Tag: Bafarawa
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Alleged diversion of N13b arms fund: Dasuki, Bafarawa, others re-arraigned
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Bafarawa’s hypocritical antidote against corruption
If the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency is to be taken seriously about its determination to engage corruption in a do-or-die warfare, then it would have to do more than the weekly assessments tendered by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. This point becomes more poignant as prominent Nigerians have started speaking up on how the hydra-headed monster has stunted growth and development for ages. It is a miracle of some sorts that a callously raped Nigeria still manages to wobble along; holding on to the hope that things could have been worse than they are presently. Ironically, the solution to the problem might just be found within the rank and file of the privileged few who had, at one time or the other, been fingered in humongous corruption cases. I must confess that Nigerians as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission owe these characters some kind of appreciation not just because they have offered to make public their profound knowledge of the effects of corrosive corruption, but for also suggesting what they perceive to be workable solutions in the drive to tame the menace.
Though the EFCC has continued to tighten the noose around the necks of some suspected treasury-looters that allegedly thronged the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) to draw billions of naira without any contractual agreement, it has not stopped quite a number of these persons from offering unsolicited advice. Among these persons, none has spent quality time in ‘dissecting’ this problem than the former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. In an interview conducted by my good friend, Ikenna Emewu and published in the Daily SUN of Monday, January 25 this year, Bafarawa spoke at length on the topic and found time to offer advice on the right path to building an incorruptible Nigeria of his dream. What amuses, one must confess, is not Bafarawa’s declarative statement that 90 per cent of Nigerians are corrupt. That could just be the painful reality. It’s just that corruption comes in many shades and forms. Yet, one’s curiosity was triggered by how Bafarawa struggled to turn a serious matter into a circus show where he positions himself as a hero among the villains that stole the country blind.
Where one had expected him to speak on his latest travails as one out of the 88 persons listed as beneficiaries of billions of naira doled out by Dasuki for non-existent contracts, Bafarawa was busy reminiscing about how he ran the affairs of governance in Sokoto State between 1999 and 2007. Where he was expected to debunk official rumours that his company got paid N4.8bn for packaging spiritual matters on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the serial presidential aspirant was waxing lyrical about how the dwindling fortunes in oil revenue has generally affected governance in most states to the point that President Buhari had to intervene with a bailout. Where he should have seized the opportunity to justify the humongous payment he got for nebulous ‘prayers’, Mr. Bafarawa was more at home castigating the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and even Jonathan for not doing much in the fight against corruption. For a two-page interview, it must be said that Bafarawa was long on hollow sermons and abysmally short on the tangibles.
Listen to him on why corruption thrives in Nigeria: “Today, corruption has become a general thing as you can see that 90 per cent of Nigerians are corrupt, because when you go to the grassroots level, corruption starts from there. The electorate will demand money before voting a candidate, no matter how good such is or the ideology she has. All that the voter wants is how much the candidate is ready to give. Then he who is going for the election will first look for money, whether he borrowed from the bank or his godfather will sponsor him is immaterial. That is the beginning of corruption, from the grassroots to the local government level, state level to national level. The electorate are corrupt; the politicians are either corrupt or forced to be corrupt because when they get to the office they are elected for, their first concern is how to pay the money back. They cannot get this money without the collaboration of the civil servants, because governors do not write the memo or raise the voucher. The civil servants will collaborate in bringing out the money and then you can see how corruption spreads all over”.
So, what then is the antidote to stopping this madness that bleeds the nation’s treasury? I may be wrong but I didn’t read any from Bafarawa in that long-winding interface with the reporter. Apart from his clarion call on the citizens to rally round Buhari in his seeming lone fight against the powerful forces that continue to milk us dry while offering sickening reasons like the ones tendered above, Bafarawa brought nothing to the solution desk. If one were to go by the prognosis of this self-styled professional politician, there would not be any need to query why mind-boggling malfeasance has become the order of the day, even in sacred places like the judiciary and the legislature. We may as well give Chief Olusegun Obasanjo a knock on his bald head for daring to write the National Assembly to open its books for audit in the last 16 years. Didn’t Obasanjo know that these lawmakers invested huge sums of money on electioneering campaigns and are therefore justified to see the allocation of extra-budgetary funds to themselves as one of the ways to recoup such investment? Okay, maybe it’s an electoral offence to induce the electorate. Were there not cases of Ghana-Must-Go being sent to the National Assembly during the Obasanjo era? But who really cares as long as the end justifies the means? In fact, if we can all live by this principle of electoral planting and reaping, there would be no need for a Dasukigate or any other gates. What is so difficult to understand in a simple analogy which suggests these politicians were being ‘forced’ to be corrupt by circumstances beyond their control? In any case, how do we expect them to pay back loans to the banks if they refuse to fiddle with the treasuries? And let no one ask Bafarawa what could have ‘forced’ the dark-goggled Gen. Sani Abacha to steal with such gusto that, some 20 years after his demise, Nigeria is still recovering billions of dollars looted by him. Well, we can always blame that on unknown forces and the gripping fear of poverty. What else could explain the endless looting ad infinitum in which recovered loot is looted and re-looted by different sets of VIPs?
By the way, it is not surprising that Bafarawa washed himself clean of the allegations levelled against him by the EFCC. He would proceed to advise Buhari to urgently create public awareness against corruption so that the common man, who elects people into political office, can “see the dangers of corruption” Hian! What baloney. And what happens to the over N1.4 trillion said to have been stolen in just seven years, including the Dasuki bazaar? What happens to the billions of slush funds lying in bank vaults scattered across the world? That must be inconsequential as long as some persons have stolen enough to the point of not only tying the hands of justice to the stakes but also keeping it hanging in perpetuity. One thing is sure though: As long as the rich and mighty walk roughshod on the justice system while the common thief pays the ultimate price for stealing the neighbour’s goat, Nigeria will not stop wallowing in pain and looking for solutions in the wrong corner of the corruption ring.
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Ex-Sokoto governor hails Buhari’s anti-corruption drive
Former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa has hailed the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, describing it as a government for Nigerians.
He expressed support for the anti-corruption drive being coordinated by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
“Whether I am an APC or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, the government is ours and Nigeria is my country. Nothing stops me from supporting its good policies,” he stressed.
The one-time presidential candidate of the defunct Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) spoke to reporters in Sokoto.
He said: “I am 100 per cent behind Buhari’s anti-graft drive to sanitise the system. But there should be justice and Buhari cannot achieve that alone without the support and cooperation of others.
“Anyone found guilty should be made to face justice. We are 100 per cent in support of the way things are going.”
Bafarawa, who has been away for over two months, said: “I am not here for politics, but to see my family and know how they are faring.”
Recalling his tenure, he said: “I was a governor for eight years and I also fought corruption within my government. I was able to leave behind N13 billion for my successor,” he explained.
The former governor, who refused to comment on the arms deal issue since the matter was in court, frowned at the attitude of the media on the scandal.
“It is amazing that the media had already set us on the line of prosecution, even before the court was served the notice of prosecution. As a politician, one should expect the good, the bad and the ugly. But I thank God for bearing the challenges of life.”
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Update: Court remands Yuguda, Dasuki, Bafarawa in Kuje prison
Former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki , former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa have been remanded with two others in Kuje prison, Abuja pending the perfection of the bail granted them on Monday.
Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) gave the order in a ruling on the bail application they filed.
Also to be remanded are former Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and son of the former Sokoto governor, Sagir Attahiru.
Yuguda, Dasuki, Bafarawa, Salihu and Sagir were arraigned with a company, Dalhatu Investment Limited on December 15 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 22-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and retention of proceeds of crime estimated at over 20billion naira.
Ruling on the bail application on Monday, Justice Affen admitted each of the five men to bail at N250million with two sureties, who must pledge the same amount, which they will forfeit should the defendant jump bail.
The judge said one of the sureties must be Director in the federal Civil Service, they must be resident in Abuja and must have landed property with Abuja worth N250m.
The judge further said that title documents in relation to the property and the defendants’ travel documents must be kept with the court after their verification by court officials.
” I have carefully considered the applications and the evidences tendered and found that extensive investigation was conducted in the matter.
” Whatever is left was not substantial to deny the defendants bail, simply because the prosecution alleged that they may interfere with investigation, if granted bail.
“There is no any evidence to prove that the defendants, if granted bail, will commit another offence. I found it difficult to agree with the theory of probability, as canvassed by the prosecution, to deny the defendants bail,” the judge said.
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Dasuki, Yuguda, Bafarawa, others to remain in EFCC custody
Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday ordered that former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, former Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and two others be further remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also to be kept with the EFCC are former Finance and Administration Director in the office of the NSA Shuaibu Salisu and Bafarawa’s son Sagir.
They are to remain in the EFCC custody pending the judge’s ruling on their bail application.
The judge ordered their remand after listening to submissions from their lawyers and the prosecution on the bail application they filed.
They were on Tuesday arraigned on a 22-count charge of breach of public trust in relation to alleged diversion of public funds and acceptance of proceed of crime estimated at about N18billion.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail.
While arguing the defendants’ bail applications the defence lawyers prayed the court to admit their clients to bail on liberal terms on the grounds that their alleged offences are bailable and that they are well-known individuals who will readily attend trial.
Prosecution lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to refuse their bail application because they could jump bail, interfere with prosecution witnesses, who are individuals, who worked under them.
Jacobs argued that mere reliance on grounds of ill-health was insufficient for the court to grant bail to a defendant.
He said the defendants must show that the ailment was life threatening and that the detaining authority lacked the capacity to effectively provide the needed medical assistance. Justice Affen adjourned to Monday for ruling.
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Alleged N18b fraud: Court remands Dasuki, Turaki, Bafarawa, others in EFCC custody
•To consider bail application today
Former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Dasuki, former Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and three others have been ordered remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also to be kept with the EFCC are former Finance and Administration Director in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and a son of the ex-Sokoto State governor, Sagir Attahiru.
Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ordered their remand yesterday after the five men were arraigned with a company allegedly linked with Sagir – Dalhatu Investment Limited.
They were arraigned on a 22-count charge of breach of public trust in relation to alleged diversion of public funds and acceptance of proceed of crime estimated at about N18billion.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when each count of the charge was read to them.
Shortly after their plea was taken, the lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to fix a date for the trial.
Jacobs told the court that the defence lawyers filed a bail application on behalf of their clients.
He said the prosecution opposed the bail application filed by the defence.
Defence lawyers – Peter Akpe (SAN), Ahmed Raji (SAN), Joshua Olatoke (SAN), Hakeem Afolabi (SAN) and A. U. Mustapha – confirmed Jacob’s position.
Justice Affen ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody, pending hearing of their bail application.
He adjourned till 12 noon today for the hearing of the bail application and the prosecution’s counter affidavit.
Dasuki and Salisu were, in count 1, accused of transferring N3.350b from the NSA’s account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with the United Bank of Africa (UBA) “purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and thereby committed an offence under Section 315 of Penal Code Act”.
Bafarawa, Sagir and Dalhatu Investment were, in counts 3 and 4, accused of receiving “proceeds of crime” in their alleged acceptance of the N3.350b from Dasuki and Salisu.
In count 16, Dasuki, Salisu and Yuguda were accused of transferring N1.1b “to the account of Jabbama Ada Globaal Services Nigeria Limited for the purpose of financing the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.”
In count 19, Dasuki and Salisu were said to have “dishonestly misappropriated” N1.675b which they allegedly “transferred to the account of Vibrant Resources Limited controlled by Abubakar Dasuki, the younger brother of Dasuki” and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code.
This is the third case involving Dasuki. He was earlier this year arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja for illegal arms possession and money laundering.
He was again arraigned before Justice Baba Yusuf of the High Court of the FCT, with four others, on a 19-count charge of “criminal breach of public trust” and diversion of public funds estimated at N13.5billion.
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I gave N600 million to George, Odili, Bafarawa, Nwobodo, others -Ex-minister Yuguda
•Offers to recover N600m and help trace the balance
•Bafarawa: I got N100m but Yuguda didn’t tell me where it came fromThe embattled former Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he gave a total of N600million cash to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general election.
He listed the beneficiaries as 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).
He said he instructed Jabbama Limited to transfer N300million to BAM Properties whose account detail was given to him by a former National Chairman of PDP, Bello Haliru.
Yuguda, who made the allegations in a Statement of Witness/ Caution which he wrote on oath, said he sent N200million to the erstwhile PDP Governorship candidate in Kebbi State, Bello Sarkin Yaki.
He said a former Governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, also got N100million.
The statement is part of the proof of evidence against the former minister whose trial is scheduled to commence this week at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Yuguda will stand trial with ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir Attahiru; Dalhatu Investment Limited.
The ex-minister is expected to account for over N3.050billion including N1.1billion being part of the funds in the account of the ONSA and aggregate sum of N1,950,000 belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was transferred to Jabbama Ada Global Services.
The ex-minister said: “For the cash disbursement of N600million, it was meant for the six zonal chairmen for Contact and Mobilisation Committees for Election of 2015. The chairmen are Bode George, Amb. Yerima Abdullahi; Peter Odili; Attahiru Bafarawa; Jim Nwobodo; Ahmadu Ali. The sum of N100million was given to each chairman. I gave the money in company of Prof. Alkali, who was Political Adviser to former president. The zonal chairmen are for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). I also instructed Jabbama Limited to transfer the sum of N100m to Dalhatu Limited on the request of Attahiru Bafarawa.
“I also remember that Bello Sarkin Yaki was among the people that the then NSA instructed that I send the sum of N200million to. He was the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kebbi State.”
Yuguda, who claimed that he had liaised with Stallion Limited, gave the details of other disbursements.
His words: “I knew the chairman of Stallion Limited whose second name I cannot remember. Between December 2014 to June 2015, on the instruction of the then NSA, I introduced Jabbama Limited to a staff of the company on the instruction of the chairman.
“When the account was in credit, disbursement was made from time to time on the instruction of the then NSA. Part in foreign exchange or transfers.
“I wish to add that sometime in February 2015, I instructed Jabbama to transfer the sum of N300m to BAM Properties. The account was given to me by Bello Haliru as one of the people the former NSA requested me to give money. I also remember that Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi was sent the sum of N100million on the instruction of the then NSA.
“Further to my statement of 30th November, 2015, I have brought the sum of $829,800(equivalent to N200m) and N600m was given to me to distribute to the six PDP Zonal Committee chairmen. I don’t know who are the directors of Dalhatu Investment Limited but funds were transferred to the company’s account on the instruction of Dalhatu Bafarawa for the total amount of N1.5billion received from the then NSA by Jabbama Limited.
“I shall endeavour to recover the sum of N600million given to the six zonal PDP committee chairmen, while I appeal to the commission to use their machineries to trace the remaining balance of the money transferred to various accounts.”
The former minister however denied receiving another N200million credited to him.
“I have been shown transaction of N200million from the Office of the Accountant-General to Jabbama which Jabbama said it’s on my instruction but I cannot remember this instruction until I crosscheck,” he said.
Some of the charges against Yuguda are: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bashir Yuguda whilst being the Minister of State for Finance between 5th February and 16th April 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N1.1billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the account of Jabbama Ada Global Services Nigeria Limited for the purpose of financing the campaign of PDP in the 2015 general election and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you, Bashir Yuguda whilst being Minister of State for Finance between 23rd December 2014 and 10th February, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: an aggregate sum of $9,809,619 which was an equivalent of the aggregate sum of N1,950,000 belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was transferred to Jabbama Ada Global Services to be converted into the said dollars and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.”
Meanwhile, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alh. Attahiru Bafarawa, admitted that he collected N100million from Yuguda through Sagir Attahiru.
Bafarawa, in his statement to the EFCC, said: “I know Bashir Yuguda. He called me to tell me there is money to be given for (sic) the North-West Campaign Committee which I asked how much and he told me is N100million for the seven states and ask (sic) to give it to Sagir which he did and the money was sent to the states campaign committee between 20th and 21st of February 2015 for the PDP Campaign for General Election.
“He did not tell me where the money was coming from. I did not ask him where the money was coming from.
“Sagir is my son and I directed Sagir to send the money to state chairmen campaign committee for PDP North-West.
“I also received N100million (dollar equivalent) from the North-West Campaign Committee. The money was given to me in the PDP National Chairman, Alh. Adamu Muazu house in Abuja in the presence of all the zonal chairmen as listed …and after collecting all this (sic) money, I gave the money to Abdullahi Yauri who was the Secretary of the North-West Campaign Committee to share to the state chapter and Yuguda didn’t tell me where he got the money from.”
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$2b arms deals: Bafarawa, Dasuki, Dokpesi arrested
EFCC goes after ex-PDP chair Bello
After a month’s siege to his Abuja home and legal fireworks, former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) was yesterday arrested for interrogation on the $2b phoney arms deals.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is to hand Dasuki over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC intensified its probe of the arms deals by arresting ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and the Emeritus Chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Dokpesi was picked up for allegedly collecting N2.1billion from the Office of the NSA. Bafarawa allegedly got N100million cash.
The EFCC has launched a manhunt for a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Haliru Bello, in connection with some diverted arms cash.
One of the suspects in the EFCC’s custody is said to have refunded N200million.
He also pleaded for bail to refund about N1billion credited to him as diverted funds.
Dasuki was arrested early yesterday by a team of DSS operatives.
The ex-NSA’s arrest came barely 14 hours after a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and 20 others were picked up by the EFCC.
Dasuki’s arrest ended a month-long siege to his Abuja home and a legal battle between him and the DSS.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The DSS operatives succeeded in having access to Dasuki’s mansion at John Kadiya Street in Asokoro District and arrested him.”
Dasuki was said to have surrendered to the EFCC team which effected his arrest. He is expected to appear before the Presidential Committee on Arms Procurement before being taken to the EFCC.
“Already, a panel of interrogators is awaiting the arrival of Dasuki in EFCC because some prime suspects, like Bashir Yuguda and ex-ONSA Director of Finance Shaibu Salisu, have written statements on how they got funds from the former NSA’s office.”
Bafarawa and Dokpesi are being held for allegedly “benefitting from the arms votes”.
A top source in EFCC said: “This agency arrested Dokpesi because records made available have shown that he collected N2.1billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser. We need to ask him what the allocation was meant for.
“Bafarawa, who was not a political appointee like Dokpesi, hauled N100million from the same office. No contract was traceable to the ex-governor. “Definitely, we are going through many payment vouchers and you will be shocked by our findings.”
Preliminary investigation by the EFCC revealed that most of the funds meant for arms purchase might have been used to finance the 2015 campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
The source added: “From what some of the suspects admitted, the arms funds were diverted to the campaign of the PDP. In fact, we have launched a manhunt for a former National Chairman of PDP, Mohammed Bello Haliru.
“A suspect has offered to refund N200million out of the over N1billion given to him for the campaign. The suspect is begging the EFCC to grant him bail to source for the balance.
“Since Monday, lawyers have been battling to secure bail for most of the suspects. The EFCC is insisting on due process and stringent bail conditions to avoid any suspect escaping abroad.”
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Update: DSS arrests Dasuki, Bafarawa, Dokpesi in EFCC net
After a month siege and legal fireworks, the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Tuesday arrested a former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki for interrogation on the $2b arms deals.
Dasuki is expected to be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after relevant security checks by the DSS.
The EFCC also intensified the ongoing probe of the arms deals by arresting ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and the Emeritus Chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
While Dokpesi was picked up for allegedly collecting N2.1billion from the Office of the NSA, Bafarawa hauled N100million cash at a go.
The EFCC has however launched manhunt for a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Haliru Bello, in connection with some diverted arms cash.
But at time of filing this report, one of the suspects in EFCC custody has refunded N200million.
He also pleaded for bail to source about N1billion credited to him as diverted funds.
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Bafarawa, Shagari rift tears Sokoto PDP apart
Efforts by the Presidency and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve the lingering crisis in the party’s Sokoto State chapter without success appears to have put the party’s chances in next month’s governorship election in serious jeopardy, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo
Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muhktar Shagari, is seething in anger.
For the second time in eight years, his dream of ruling his home state has crashed almost irretrievably.
In the run-up to the 2007 general elections, Shagari, who served as the Minister of Water Resources under the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, indicated interest in running for the governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Leveraging on his ministerial position, popularity in the Sokoto PDP and closeness to the then president, Shagari beat all comers to the governorship ticket with minimal efforts.
But his joy was short-lived. No sooner had he secured the ticket than he was “prevailed” upon to step down and cede it to a relative newcomer in the party, Aliyu Magatarkarda Wammako, then the deputy governor.
Wammako’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate was the product of high-level negotiations reportedly brokered by the Presidency determined to dislodge the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party, which had been in power for eight years.
Having fallen out with his then boss, Attahiru Bafarawa, who refused to back his intention to take over from him, Wammako defected to the PDP and was compensated with the governorship ticket. Though shattered by the disappointment of having his ticket withdrawn, Shagari took the setback in his strides.
As a loyal party man, he agreed to abide by the party’s decision and in compensation; he was named the running mate to Wammako. The 2007 governorship election soon came, with Wammako defeating the ANPP candidate and Bafarawa’s preference, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi.
Between Wammako and Shagari
For six years, Wammako and Shagari worked together harmoniously. The defection of Wammako from the PDP to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) however put spanner in their relationship, with Shagari declining to leave PDP.
His decision was connected to a deal he allegedly struck with the Presidency, that he would be handed the PDP structures in the state in addition to an offer of the 2015 governorship ticket.
Second time unlucky
Still basking in the euphoria of his new status as the ‘new leader’ of Sokoto PDP, the party’s governorship ticket appeared a done deal for Shagari. But the permutation soon changed with the unexpected defection of ex-Governor Bafarawa from the APC to PDP following a superiority clash with his arch rival, Wammako, who on joining APC, automatically became the leader of the party in the state.
Within weeks of his entry into PDP, Bafarawa practically relegated Shagari to the background in the party, a development that angered the deputy governor and his legion of supporters.
To make matters worse, Shagari lost the governorship primaries to Ambassador Abdallah Wali. And despite persistent efforts by the Presidency and the national leadership of PDP to enlist his support for Wali, the deputy governor has distanced himself from the governorship campaign, while telling whoever cares to listen that his major priority is the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Presently, there are fears that if the conflict is allowed to linger on much longer, it could further widen the crack in the state chapter of the party and snowball into a serious violence among its supporters.
Already, the two key political figures have launched a ‘media war’, while their supporters have resorted to name calling in a bid to express grievances over the result of the gubernatorial primary election which is being faulted by Shagari, the former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman and Senator Abubakar Umar Gada.
Intrigues before the governorship primaries
Prior to the governorship primaries, there had been a fierce competition, especially between Shagari and Wali in their bid to win the support of delegates. The competition started at the inauguration of the new executive committee of the party, where Wali announced a gift of one brand new Peugeot (406 model) car to each of the 23 local government chairmen of the party. The announcement precipitated a thunderous applause and the shout of “Sai Wali”.
Sensing the implication of Wali’s gift to his ambition, the deputy governor in a swift reaction, announced a gift of motorcycles to each local government secretaries and ward chairmen of the party.
While defending his preference for ward chairmen and local government secretaries, Shagari said it was based on his conviction that they were the grassroots mobilisers, stressing that it would be disastrous for any right thinking politician to marginalise them.
The rivalry between the two became more intense on the day of the primary election when Shagari alleged that there was an importation of delegates who were not genuine members of the party by Bafarawa and his favourite, Wali. To express his displeasure, he along with his supporters walked out of the Gigimya Memorial Stadium, venue of the election.
The situation gave Wali an easy victory as he got over 500 votes, leaving the deputy governor with only one vote.
While making his stand known on the election, Shagari contended that the whole process was marred by irregularities, including the dragging of electoral process to lapse into the night for the sole purpose of rigging the poll.
In apparent reference to how his loyalty to the party has not paid off for him, Shagari in another interview, said nobody in the state had laboured for the PDP than him, stressing that he deserved to be compensated with an automatic ticket. This view was also shared by many political analysts in the state.
He also referred to an agreement which he said members of the old PDP entered with Governor Aliyu Wamakko shortly after he was cajoled to join the party by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He recalled that his ticket was given to Wamakko after the latter agreed that he (Shagari) would succeed him after completing his tenure.
However, Wali refuted this claim, saying there was no such agreement. He challenged the deputy governor to produce evidence to prove his claims.
In an interview with newsmen in Sokoto, Wali faulted Shagari for his refusal to accept defeat in an election which he described as one of the fairest in the state.
“In the real sense, nobody should have the moral justification to allege that delegates are being manipulated. Do not forget that these delegates were accredited in front of the three certified agents who represented the three aspirants.
“To us, it is embarrassing for anybody to raise the issue of fake delegates during the election. The venue is in an open stadium and not in a hall. The INEC officials were present and they monitored the processes. The security agents were also present at the venue. To many, the election is one of the most transparent in the state,” he asserted.
Wali, who is the Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, admitted that Shagari’s decision not to accept the outcome of the election would be a challenge. He, however, called it a “manageable challenge”.
“The reason why we believe it is a manageable challenge is that the election is not a question of somebody winning 100 percent. We only won the 74 percent of the total votes counted, which means three quarters of our party faithful shared our beliefs and dreams. That is a strong percentage of the party followership, which can lead the party to success.
Wali also disagreed with those who believe that Bafarawa’s coming to PDP has done more harm to the party than good. Rather, he says the former governor’s membership has galvanised the party in the state.
He said, “If you will recall, in 2003, former Governor Bafarawa was leading the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) to run for the second term and I was running on the PDP platform, hoping for my first term in government. But he (Bafarawa) won the election in that contest. Today, the two of us are working together. We believe that we have the necessary structures to swing the elections in favour of the PDP. So, we hope that with God’s help, it will come to pass.”
But the popular questions being asked in the state now are: can the PDP make any impact in the 2015 general elections with a fractured house? Can Wali defeat the APC candidate, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who also happens to be his in-law? These questions and more will be given definite answers on March 28 and April 11.