Posted on: 08:36 Fri, 11 Dec 2015



MORE shocking revelations have
come on how huge cash estimated at
$2billion meant for arms purchase
was allegedly diverted by key
government officials and politicians
during the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
Presidency.

A former Director of Finance in the
Office of the National Security
Adviser (ONSA), Mr. Shuaibu Salisu,
said $47million was withdrawn from
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in
11 suit cases.

He said he suspected that the cash
might have been given to the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).

He, however, said as a civil servant,
he was innocent because he only
carried out instructions from the ex-
National Security Adviser, Mr.
Mohammed Sambo Dasuki.

The Chief Judge of the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Ishaq
Bello, yesterday ordered that Salisu
be either arraigned in a competent
court of law if there is any basis for
so doing or be released on
administrative bail on terms to be
settled by the applicant.

It was also discovered that
N10billion was withdrawn from the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for
gubernatorial and State Houses of
Assembly elections.

The payment of the N10billion was
authenticated by former Finance
Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who
has said she transferred $322
million from the Abacha loot to
Dasuki, following instruction from
Dr. Jonathan.

Salisu opened up in a Statement of
Witness/Accused he wrote under
oath in the presence of investigators
of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The statement was attached to the
charges preferred against Salisu and
filed in the High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory in preparation for
his arraignment by the EFCC today
before Justice H.Y. Baba and Justice
P.O. Affen.

Salisu, who said he did not benefit
from all the slush funds from the
CBN, said: “I could remember on the
20/11/2014 , I was directed by the
NSA, M.S. Dasuki to go to the CBN
and collect the sum of $47m in cash
and the balance in Euro and the
directive was obeyed and the monies
were delivered to the NSA in about
11 suit cases.

“I acknowledged the receipt of the
money from the CBN which was
handed over to M.S. Dasuki.

“I think the monies were meant for
PDP. After delivery, I left, I did not
see or know when the money was
distributed.

“I did not benefit even one cent. The
request for the funds was tag(sic)
Special Services signed by the NSA,
M.S. Dasuki, addressed to the
Governor of CBN.

“I did not know the source of the
money into our CBN Account. The
foreign currencies that I collected
from the CBN were delivered to the
NSA in his house, No. 13, John
Kadiya Street, Asokoro.”

The Nation last night obtained
memos of some of the curious
withdrawals.

In a November 26, 2014 memo to the
Central Bank Governor(NSA /366/S),
the former NSA instructed as
follows: “Further to our discussion,
you are pleased requested to provide
the sum of $47m cash out of the N10
billion and the balance in Euro to
this office for special services.

“Mr. S.A Salisu, Director of Finance
and Administration, is hereby
authorised to sign and collect the
amount. Please accept, Your
Excellency , the assurances of my
highest esteem.

In another April 10, 2015 letter,
BPSD/CRC/ GEN/FMF/01/36 by the
Banking and Payment System
Department, the CBN authenticated
payment mandate of N10billion to
the ONSA for preparation for
gubernatorial and State Assembly
elections.

The letter, signed by CBN Director,
Banking and Payments System
Department, reads: “In accordance
with your letters, Ref. No. HMF/
FMF/082.F15276.7 and F.15276
respectively on the above subject, we
forward herewith the following
mandate for authentication. Mandate
Ref. FD/LP(9/4/2015)-N5,000,000,000
to National Security Adviser Account
No. 0029172241019, CBN; another
N5,000,000,000 to National Security
Adviser Account No. 1014199287,
Zenith Bank, K-City Plaza, WUSE II
Abuja.

“Purpose of payment: “Being amount
released to the Office of National
Security Adviser(ONSA) from the
Signatory Bonus Account in
preparation for the forthcoming
Gubernatorial / State Assembly
elections as approved by AGF.

“The Honourable Minister may wish
to authenticate this mandate to
enable the CBN remit the fund.”

In a short note to approve the
request Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala simply
said: “Authenticated” and signed.

There were indications last night that
the EFCC may invite Mrs. Okonjo-
Iweala “for clarifications”. She has
openly admitted that she released
$322million to ex-NSA Dasuki from
the Abacha loot recovered.

“ We have to find out from her
whether or not due process was
followed. She also needs to tell the
anti-graft agency whether such a
release was appropriated or not,” a
source told The Nation, pleading not
to be named because he is not
authorised to speak on the matter.

Justice Ishaq Bello yesterday ordered
that Salisu be either arraigned in a
competent court of law if there is
any basis for so doing or be released
on administrative bail on terms to
be settled by the applicant.

This followed an application for the
enforcement of Salisu’s fundamental
human rights by his counsel, A.U
Mustapha.

Mustapha had sought for a
declaration that the “ arrest and
continuous detention of Salaisu by
the EFCC from November 20, 2015
constitutes a gross volation of the
applicant’s rights to personal liberty
and freedom of movement
respectively guaranteed under
sections 35 and 41 of the 1999
Constitution.

“A declaration that the arrest and
continuous detention of the
applicant in custody without any
charge since November 20 with a
view to denying him freedom of
movement as guaranteed by 1999
Constitution and .article 10(1) of the
African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights( Ratification and
Enfircement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria is accordingly
unlawful, unconstitutional and
illegal.

“An order directing the the EFCC to
release the applicant forthwith
without any condition.

“An order as the Honourable Court
may deem fit to make in the
circumstances of the application.”

Source: TheNation