New updates on the current #ArmsDeal prob suggest that Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) diverted funds meant for the purchase of weapons to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, to acquire choice property in London and Dubai, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a counter affidavit filed against Dasuki’s bail application on Tuesday.
According to The Nation, the federal government’s prosecution team warned against granting bail to Dasuki on the grounds that he could be attacked by relatives of ill-equipped soldiers who died in the anti-terror war as a result of Dasuki’s alleged diversion of funds meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition for the military.
The affidavit deposed by Hassan Saidu, who is a part of the EFCC investigating team reads thus:
“The offences being alleged against the defendant/applicant border on economic sabotage that strikes at the very foundation of Nigeria’s well-being and existence.
“The security of the Nigerian nation was compromised and the lives of innocent Nigerian soldiers in the battlefront against terrorists were endangered on account of diversion of funds meant for the security of the nation by the applicant herein.
“It is in the interest of justice to put the applicant in protective custody so as to protect him from a possible attack by the relatives of the innocent soldiers who lost their lives due to lack of adequate equipment and facilities caused by the diversion of the funds meant for that purpose.
“Apart from the cases that are pending against the applicant, he is also being investigated in respect of other criminal allegations. The applicant acquired a large volume of assets with the proceeds of crimes and my team is currently tracing the assets and, if released on bail, the applicant will interfere with the asset tracing activities.
“The applicant transferred huge sums of monies to various companies, whose identifies we are still trying to trace. And, if released on bail, the applicant will interfere and frustrate our investigation. Our investigation also revealed that the applicant transferred large sums of monies outside Nigeria and he acquired several assets in Dubai and London with these funds.
“The prosecution is prepared to prove its case within the shortest possible time if the application is refused and the court orders accelerated hearing.”
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who made a case for the affidavit on Tuesday, urged the court to refuse the bail applications by Dasuki and two others arraigned with him on Monday on a 19-count charge of criminal breach of public trust and diversion of public funds. They are ex-Finance and Administration Director in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.
Jacobs argued that if granted bail, Dasuki has the clout to interfere with the investigation and intimidate prosecution witnesses who were once his subordinates.
‘‘They are not entitled to bail because they may jump bail. I recognize that the granting or refusal of bail is at the discretion of the court, but if they will interfere with investigation of other cases that will be instituted against them, you can refuse them bail. If bail application is filed, it is not automatic that it must be granted,’’ Jacobs said.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf adjourned till Friday for ruling on the bail application. He directed that the defendants be further remanded in the custody of the EFCC.
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