The Nigeria Presidency has reacted to the recent statement credited to the former President, Dr. Goodlcuk Jonathan in which he said that the National Security Adviser (NSA) under his government, retired Colone Sambo Dasuki did not loot over $2 billion meant to purchase arms for the soldiers fighting Bokko Haram in the North East.
In statement, the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that only a competent court can decide if he (Dasuki) stole over two billion dollars.
Adesina said that Jonathan’s comments amounts to subjudice, adding there is already an existing legal action against the former NSA over how the monies in question were spent.
“The matter is subjudice. Let the courts decide,” he said.
Dr. Jonathan had said on Monday that he doesn’t believe that his former NSA could have stolen $2.2 billion.
Dasuki was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] for allegedly embezzling the said sum.
The monies were meant for purchase or arms in the fight against Boko haram in the country.
President Jonathan said: “They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2bn.
“I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2bn.
“We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the Army and so on and so forth and you are still saying $2.2bn was stolen.
“So, where did we get the money to buy all those things?”
Dr. Jonathan made the following remarks during a debate on youth entrepreneurship at the Oxford Union Society in England.
He also defended his administration’s policies, especially in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging North Eastern Nigeria. [myad]
