Presidency Replies Dasuki: Buhari’ll Ensure You Don’t Get Away With $2.1bn Arms Deal

The Presidency has reacted to claims by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, that the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration deserved unreserved credit for the defeat of Boko Haram terrorists.

In a statement on Monday by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the Presidency rebuffed the NSA’s attribution of victory against Boko Haram to the previous administration.

Sambo had said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration only took the glory for a job already completed by Jonathan’s government.

In his response, Garba Shehu said: “For those interested in the facts, as at the time elections were held in March 2015, a number of local government areas in Northeast Nigeria were completely under the control of Boko Haram–to the extent that elections in those areas had to be moved to safe areas.

“The residents of areas such as Gwoza, Banki, Kukawa, Monguno, Bulumba, Baga, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, etc., were able to vote, not in their hometowns but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State, under special arrangements made by INEC.

“Since the Buhari administration came into power, however, many of those residents have returned to their homes and Boko Haram eradicated from their areas. In many of these areas, institutions such as schools, police stations, markets and courts have been reestablished or in the process of being reestablished.”

He said President Buhari will not renege from investigating the arms deal Mr Dasuki is currently being tried for.

“It is for trespasses like these that the Buhari administration is determined to get to the bottom of the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal and ensure that no single one of the culprits goes scot free.

“The truth, as a matter of fact is that the monster of terrorism got bigger and more daring due to the incompetence and misgovernance of the last administration and no amount lies and fiction can change that,” the statement said.

Mr Dasuki was arrested on December 1, 2015, over the alleged diversion of funds meant for arms procurement.

The former NSA and five others, including two firms, are facing a 19-count charge of fraud over alleged N13.6 billion fraud, which was part of a $2.1 billion fund released for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military to fight Boko Haram during his tenure.

The other defendants are Shuaibu Salusi, former director of Finance at the Office of the NSA; Aminu Baba-Kusa, former executive director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company; Bashir Yuguda, former minister of State for Finance; Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Reference Hospital.

It was also during his tenure that the terror group kidnapped about 270 teenage girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

Many of the girls have since been released due to the efforts of the current administration, although scores still remain with the insurgents.

He is being held in custody by the Muhammadu Buhari government, despite several court orders granting him bail.