Arms Deal Saga: Top 10 People Who Have Been Implicated
The present administration led by President Muhammadu
Buhari has said it is committed to fighting corruption and
cleaning the rot left by the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
In doing so, some prominent Nigerians have been accused
of being involved in shady deals.
The federal government is currently investigating the
$2billion arms purchase deal and many prominent persons
have been arrested.
In its interim report, a presidential investigations committee
into arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan
administration had said it found extra-budgetary spending
by the Jonathan administration to the tune of N643.8 billion
and an additional $2.2 billion in the foreign currency
component.
President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a panel to
investigate how $2bn meant for the procurement of arms
deal disappeared from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In the last few weeks, operatives of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of
State Services (DSS), have arrested some public figures who
served during former president, Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, over the alleged $2billion arms procurement
deal.
READ ALSO : $2bn Arms Deal Saga: Sambo Dasuki, Others
Indicted
Below is a compilation of some of the people who have been
alleged to be involved in the shady arms deal.
1. Sambo Dasuki
The arms deal saga started with the siege laid on the house
of the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki by the
Directorate of State Security. Dasuki, a key adviser to the
former president, Jonathan was accused of awarding
“phantom contracts” to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets,
and bombs and ammunition worth $2bn for the military to
fight Boko Haram insurgency. But the weapons and
equipment were never were supplied.
He was arrested on December 1, by the DSS and taken to
the DSS office in Abuja. The embattled former National
Security Adviser is standing trial on a five-count charge of
money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.
2. AIT Chairman Raymond Dokpesi
Dokpesi has been charged to court by the federal
government over alleged receipt of N2.1 billion from Dasuki
from funds meant for the purchase of arms. He had earlier
explained the EFCC officials that the money he received from
the NSA was used to prosecute Jonathan’s campaign and
publicity for the PDP.
He was arraigned by the EFCC before a Federal High Court in
Abuja on Wednesday, December 9.
3. Former minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda
Former minister of finance is also
among those being mentioned in the
arms deal scandal.
He was arrested in Abuja Monday afternoon, November 30 ,
together with other top officials from the office of the NSA
over the controversial arms procurement scandal
surrounding Dasuki.
Yuguda allegedly received N1.5billion from the former
NSA’s office through an unnamed company, for unstated
purpose, N1.275billion from Stallion Group during the
campaign for the last general election and another
N775million was also allegedly paid to him from the office of
the Accountant General of the Federation for unstated
purpose.
4. Former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa
The ex-governor was arrested in connection with the $2.1b
arms purchase scam. He is alleged to have benefited about
N100 million from Dasuki. Bafarawa denied receiving any
money from Dasuki , describing the report as orchestrated
media campaign aimed at tarnishing his image.
However, his family has asked the EFCC to charge him and
his son to court if they have any evidence against them or
release them.
5. Bode George :
A national leader of the PDP, Chief Bode George
A report had surfaced on December 3, that he received N100
million from Dasuki, which was part of the $2.9 billion arms
deal. In a swift response, the former deputy national
chairman of the PDP denied collecting any money from the
office of the former NSA . According to him, he never met
Dasuki throughout his tenure, let alone collecting money
from him.
6. David Mark
Senator David Mark
Reports surfaced recently claiming that the former Senate
president, Mark got the sum of 10.7 billion naira from the
arms deal.
In reaction, his campaign team has frowned at the reports,
insisting that Mark was never involved in the shady deal.
7. Peter Odili
Former Rivers state governor, Peter Odili
The former Rivers state governor, Odili was named among
those who received the sum of N100million from the
embattled former NSA. He has not said anything about his
involvement in the deal.
8. Bukola Saraki
Online medium, Sahara Reporters had published a news
article, linking the Senate president with fraudulent arms
deal.
In reaction, Saraki simply denied any complicity in the deal .
A statement by his special adviser, media and publicity,
Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the Senate president has
never had anything to do with purchase of security
equipment because in his entire political career he never
served in any committee or body which has any link with
defence or national security.
9. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The former coordinating minister of the economy and
minister of finance under Goodluck Jonathan administration
was alleged to have diverted the late head of state Sani
Abacha’s loot. She allegedly approved the transfer of at
least N61.4b ($300 million and £5.5 million) from funds
recovered from the late Abacha, to the office of the NSA, few
weeks to the 2015 presidential election.
In reaction, she said she had no hand in the arms purchase
deals facilitated by Dasuki.
There are strong indications that she may soon be
summoned by the EFCC for questioning over allegations that
she is in the know of how the $2bn meant for arms
procurement was spent.
10. Former president, Goodluck Jonathan
Some have said the former president should also be probed
over the arms deal scam, saying he was in the best position
to tell Nigerians the role he played as the consenting
authority in the arms scam.
However, J onathan has said his administration did not
award contract for arms procurement to the tune of $2
billion.
Buhari has said it is committed to fighting corruption and
cleaning the rot left by the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
In doing so, some prominent Nigerians have been accused
of being involved in shady deals.
The federal government is currently investigating the
$2billion arms purchase deal and many prominent persons
have been arrested.
In its interim report, a presidential investigations committee
into arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan
administration had said it found extra-budgetary spending
by the Jonathan administration to the tune of N643.8 billion
and an additional $2.2 billion in the foreign currency
component.
President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a panel to
investigate how $2bn meant for the procurement of arms
deal disappeared from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In the last few weeks, operatives of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of
State Services (DSS), have arrested some public figures who
served during former president, Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, over the alleged $2billion arms procurement
deal.
READ ALSO : $2bn Arms Deal Saga: Sambo Dasuki, Others
Indicted
Below is a compilation of some of the people who have been
alleged to be involved in the shady arms deal.
1. Sambo Dasuki
The arms deal saga started with the siege laid on the house
of the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki by the
Directorate of State Security. Dasuki, a key adviser to the
former president, Jonathan was accused of awarding
“phantom contracts” to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets,
and bombs and ammunition worth $2bn for the military to
fight Boko Haram insurgency. But the weapons and
equipment were never were supplied.
He was arrested on December 1, by the DSS and taken to
the DSS office in Abuja. The embattled former National
Security Adviser is standing trial on a five-count charge of
money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.
2. AIT Chairman Raymond Dokpesi
Dokpesi has been charged to court by the federal
government over alleged receipt of N2.1 billion from Dasuki
from funds meant for the purchase of arms. He had earlier
explained the EFCC officials that the money he received from
the NSA was used to prosecute Jonathan’s campaign and
publicity for the PDP.
He was arraigned by the EFCC before a Federal High Court in
Abuja on Wednesday, December 9.
3. Former minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda
Former minister of finance is also
among those being mentioned in the
arms deal scandal.
He was arrested in Abuja Monday afternoon, November 30 ,
together with other top officials from the office of the NSA
over the controversial arms procurement scandal
surrounding Dasuki.
Yuguda allegedly received N1.5billion from the former
NSA’s office through an unnamed company, for unstated
purpose, N1.275billion from Stallion Group during the
campaign for the last general election and another
N775million was also allegedly paid to him from the office of
the Accountant General of the Federation for unstated
purpose.
4. Former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa
The ex-governor was arrested in connection with the $2.1b
arms purchase scam. He is alleged to have benefited about
N100 million from Dasuki. Bafarawa denied receiving any
money from Dasuki , describing the report as orchestrated
media campaign aimed at tarnishing his image.
However, his family has asked the EFCC to charge him and
his son to court if they have any evidence against them or
release them.
5. Bode George :
A national leader of the PDP, Chief Bode George
A report had surfaced on December 3, that he received N100
million from Dasuki, which was part of the $2.9 billion arms
deal. In a swift response, the former deputy national
chairman of the PDP denied collecting any money from the
office of the former NSA . According to him, he never met
Dasuki throughout his tenure, let alone collecting money
from him.
6. David Mark
Senator David Mark
Reports surfaced recently claiming that the former Senate
president, Mark got the sum of 10.7 billion naira from the
arms deal.
In reaction, his campaign team has frowned at the reports,
insisting that Mark was never involved in the shady deal.
7. Peter Odili
Former Rivers state governor, Peter Odili
The former Rivers state governor, Odili was named among
those who received the sum of N100million from the
embattled former NSA. He has not said anything about his
involvement in the deal.
8. Bukola Saraki
Online medium, Sahara Reporters had published a news
article, linking the Senate president with fraudulent arms
deal.
In reaction, Saraki simply denied any complicity in the deal .
A statement by his special adviser, media and publicity,
Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the Senate president has
never had anything to do with purchase of security
equipment because in his entire political career he never
served in any committee or body which has any link with
defence or national security.
9. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The former coordinating minister of the economy and
minister of finance under Goodluck Jonathan administration
was alleged to have diverted the late head of state Sani
Abacha’s loot. She allegedly approved the transfer of at
least N61.4b ($300 million and £5.5 million) from funds
recovered from the late Abacha, to the office of the NSA, few
weeks to the 2015 presidential election.
In reaction, she said she had no hand in the arms purchase
deals facilitated by Dasuki.
There are strong indications that she may soon be
summoned by the EFCC for questioning over allegations that
she is in the know of how the $2bn meant for arms
procurement was spent.
10. Former president, Goodluck Jonathan
Some have said the former president should also be probed
over the arms deal scam, saying he was in the best position
to tell Nigerians the role he played as the consenting
authority in the arms scam.
However, J onathan has said his administration did not
award contract for arms procurement to the tune of $2
billion.
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