Buhari Admits Receiving Two SUVs from Jonathan after Boko Haram Attack

As the probe into the utilisation of funds in the office the National Security Adviser (NSA) continues, the presidency yesterday denied a report that President Muhammadu Buhari collected $300,000 and five armoured SUVs from the NSA’s office following the attack by suspected Boko Haram members on his convoy in Kaduna last year, but admitted that the president got two SUVs from the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the president’s media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari received one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV from former President Goodluck Jonathan after he (Buhari) was attacked.

The statement said: “While it is true that one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV were sent to the president in the aftermath of the attack, the vehicles were in keeping with his entitlements as a former Head of State under the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (And Other Ancillary Matters) Decree of 1999.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports making the rounds, especially on internet-based media that President Muhammadu Buhari received $300,000 and five SUVs from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“We unequivocally deny that President Buhari received $300,000 or any monetary compensation whatsoever from the Jonathan presidency or any of its officials in the aftermath of that attack or at any other time since then.
“Section 3, Sub-section 1 of that decree provides that three vehicles will be provided for former heads of state and replaced every four years.

“There was therefore nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption in former Head of State Buhari and presidential aspirant, as he then was, receiving vehicles, to which he was statutorily entitled from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Buhari had in keeping with his austere, spartan and frugal disposition shunned most of his entitlements as a former head of state, but was prevailed upon by his supporters to accept the two vehicles for his personal safety in the aftermath of the dastardly attempt to assassinate him.

“It is preposterous to think that the president will allow his acclaimed reputation of honesty and incorruptibility to be tarnished by accepting questionable monetary compensation from a discredited regime.”

The statement from the presidency came on the heels of the re-arraignment yesterday of the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd); former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; ex-Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda; a former Director of

Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu; and three others before a Federal High Court in Abuja on fresh corruption charges.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged diversion, misappropriation and breach of trust in respect of the N19.4 billion criminal charges brought against them by the federal government.

The six accused persons were arraigned on a new 22-count charge before Justice Peter Affen for purportedly misappropriating the sum meant for the procurement of arms for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram.

Part of the 22-count charge read: “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 between April 14, 2014 and May 7, 2015 in Abuja, entrusted with dominion of over N3.5 billion, being part of the funds in the account of the office of the NSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), committed criminal breach of trust by transferring the money into the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa (UBA) purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Vol.4 LFN 2004.”

Count two stated: “That you Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafarawa, between April 14, 2014 and May 7, 2015 in Abuja dishonestly received stolen property amounting to N3.5 billion into your account with UBA from the account of the office of the NSA with the CBN, which belongs to the federal government and knowing the same to be stolen property but purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and thereby committed an offence under section 317 of the penal code Act Cap 532, Vol.4 LFN 2004.”

When the new charges were read to them, the accused persons including Saggir Bafarawa, son of the former Sokoto governor and his components, Dalhatu Investment, denied the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), to request an adjournment till next year to enable him assemble his witnesses for trial.

But the counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), raised the issue of application for bail for the accused persons, arguing that the motion for their bail had been filed and served on the prosecution.

By consent of the lawyers in the matter, Justice Affen adjourned hearing in the bail application till today and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the ruling on their bail.

Also, at the resumed hearing of the bail application on the 19-count charge preferred against Dasuki, Salisu, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Aminu Babakusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, for which they were arraigned on Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that the accused be remanded in the custody of the EFCC till Friday.

The accused were arraigned on Monday by the federal government for their purported involvement in money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13.57 billion.

But the counsel to Salisu, Mr. Solomon Umoh, argued that Section 162 ACJ and Section 35 of the constitution provide that the accused person remains innocent until proven guilty and individual liberty can only be restrained by exceptional circumstances, which can only be proven at the court.

Umoh further argued that his client had been a faithful civil servant for years without any record of incriminating evidence or conviction against him and therefore deserved bail.

But Jacobs countered the argument, saying that the accused was still under investigation and might jump bail because of the severity of the allegations and punishment upon conviction.

“This people might jump bail and we are tracing some assets to them and some witnesses whose safety maybe be jeopardised by their freedom. The intent of the charges and the severity of the judgment may make them jump bail,” Rotimi said.

However, Raji debunked Jacob’s argument, saying that “even with worst case scenario, this case does not even necessarily lead to going to prison, as it can be resolved by a caution and plea bargain. So it does not arise”.

He argued further: “They should be granted bail because they have not been convicted of any crime and since the offence can be sorted by plea bargain then bail cannot be withheld. It’s under the law.”

After listening to arguments by the defence and prosecuting counsels, the presiding judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, adjourned to Friday for ruling on the bail application and accelerated trial.

Raji, while speaking to journalists after the court’s sitting, insisted that the charges against his clients were bailable offences.
“Under the new law, anything that involves money is bailable and the new law does not insist on imprisonment, plea bargaining is also obtainable,” Raji said.

Meanwhile, the office of the NSA (ONSA) has beamed its searchlight on all the companies, which had dealings with the office in a bid to unravel how $2.1 billion was allegedly diverted by its past officials and others instead of being spent on arms and equipment for the war against Boko Haram.

This was contained in a circular signed by the Principal General Staff Officer in the NSA’s office yesterday.
According to sources, the aim of the circular is to expand the scope of investigations that would help expose any shady deals in the NSA’s office and assist the federal government in its prosecution of the suspects currently being tried for diverting the funds meant for the procurement of arms.

“The ONSA hereby calls on all companies which had contracts with, made supplies or rendered services to the said office to appear before the Contract Verification Committee sitting at its premises between December 15 and 23, 2015,” the circular directed.
The affected companies were also directed to appear through accredited representatives of at least the status of a director.

They are requested to come along with the following: certificates of incorporation, particulars of directors, tax clearance certificates from 2011 to date, letters of award of contracts, invoices for supplies or services, evidence of payment so far/outstanding balance, personal income tax clearance certificates of directors, and any other documents considered relevant to the contracts.