The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday combed the Abuja
residence of the former Chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond
Dokpesi, in continuation
of its investigation into the controversial
disbursement of $2bn arms procurement funds by the ex-National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
It was
gathered on Thursday in Abuja that Dokpesi was taken to his house in
Abuja, where the operatives of the anti-graft agency searched the
businessman’s residence for certain clues that might aid its probe.
It was not clear what the operatives looked for in the residence and if they succeeded in taking away any document.
After the search, the suspect was taken back to the EFCC headquarters, where he was kept overnight.
Dokpesi,
had, in a statement on Wednesday, said the N2.1bn he collected from
Dasuki’s office, was meant for publicity and media campaigns during the
2015 general elections, describing it as a contractual transaction.
A 13-man
committee set up by the Office of the NSA to audit the procurement of
arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and defence sector from 2007 to
date had unearthed alleged illicit and fraudulent financial transactions
on the purchase of arms during the period.
The committee had submitted an interim report to the Presidency.
According
to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi
Adesina, after the submission of the interim report, the total extra
budgetary interventions so far articulated by the committee was
estimated at N643.8bn
The
committee also put the foreign currency component of the arms contracts
at $2bn, an amount, it said, excluded grants from state governments and
funds collected by the DSS and Police.
Meanwhile,
the EFCC has arrested a former Chairman of the Presidential
Implementation Committee on Marine Safety, Air Vice Marshal Salihu
Atawodi (retd.), for alleged N600m arms scam.
It was
learnt that the retired military officer was invited to the commission’s
Abuja office by 11am on Thursday and was grilled for several hours.
A top
operative of the commission said Atawodi was invited to the commission’s
headquarters for alleged conspiracy, abuse of office and
misappropriation of public funds.
He was
alleged to have awarded contracts to the tune of N600m to one Alhaji
Rabiu’s Hypertech Nigeria Limited for the procurement of military boats,
which were not supplied.
The source
said, “The commission is of the view that the contract for the supply
of the military boats, which were awarded for N600m, were not supplied.
“He is being interrogated in connection with the alleged scam.”
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest and the ongoing interrogation of the AVM.
Meanwhile,
Dasuki has denied implicating anybody during his appearance at the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the $2bn arms procurement
probe.
According
to an Abuja-based public relations outfit, PRNigeria, Dasuki spoke on
Thursday through his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN).
PRNigeria reported that not all the funds in the NSA office were spent on the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram.
It stated that part of the funds was spent on miscellaneous items such as refreshment and office maintenance.
Dasuki’s lawyer denied a report that the former NSA implicated some people in the statement he made at the EFCC on Wednesday.
Raji
stated, “I was with Dasuki yesterday (Wednesday) and wish to make
categorical statement that my client never made any statement of such
nature or naming anybody or group in any statement.
“Quote me
anywhere, Dasuki has not done anything like that. It is absolutely
untrue. It is the figment of the imagination of the authors aimed at
creating falsehood for reasons best known to them and Nigerians should
disregard them.
“They are
just out to scandalise the man, bring his image and character into
disrepute so that his friends and well wishers can run away from him.
They want him deserted and that will fail.”
A
newspaper publication on Thursday claimed that Dasuki listed
ex-governors and Peoples Democratic Party chiefs in the $2bn arms deals.
Also PRNigeria reported that not all funds in Office of the National Security Adviser were related to arms’ procurement.
It stated,
“The ONSA manages several funds for national security and other special
interventions, which are not related to Boko Haram arms procurement.’’
SOURCE: PUNCH
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