$2.1b arms deals: Mu’azu, Dikko, Jonathan’s ex-aide may be declared wanted

Security agencies may declare former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair Adamu Muazu, former Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General Abdullahi Dikko Inde  and four others wanted.

Adamu muazu

The others are former PDP Kebbi State governorship candidate Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, a former top official in the Office of National Security Adviser, Col. Bello Fadile, former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Waripamowei Dudafa and a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr.Abdulrasheed Maina.

They are wanted in connection with the ongoing probe of alleged curious spending by some former public officers, including  the management of $2.1billion arms cash by ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), who is in detention.

Some of those wanted allegedly diverted public funds  to other uses, including political purposes.

Investigations have so far shown that some of the officers have questions to answer on some expenditures incurred by the Jonathan administration.

The breakdown is as follows:

• Muazu—(N500million cash allegedly from the Office of the National Security Adviser);


• Yaki(N200million from ONSA);


• Fadile(N100million from ONSA);


• Dudafa( being investigated for N10billion given to the delegates to the PDP’s nomination convention);


• Maina—alleged N20billion pension fraud


• Dikko—N3.5billion incurred  on internet project

According to a source, who spoke in confidence, most of those affected were invited by the Special Investigative Committee probing the activities of ONSA but they refused to turn up.

The source added: “Security agencies have given these former public officers enough time but they have not turned up to clear some disbursements and  expenditures traced to them.

President Jonathan

“The committee is not saying that they are guilty but it is imperative for them to appear before the team handling these issues.

“They have up to one week to honour the invitation of the panel or else they will be declared wanted by the appropriate security agencies.”

Another source said: “Some of the accused persons on trial admitted disbursing arms cash to a few of these former public officers. For instance, Dasuki, in his statement, said he handed over N10billion to Dudafa for disbursement to delegates to PDP Nomination Convention.

“A former Minister of Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, who is standing trial, said Yakin benefited to the tune of N200million from some funds.

“Most of these people are holed up abroad. Let them come home. Once they are declared wanted by security agencies, it will be easier to extradite them home.”

$2.1b arms deals: Mu’azu, Dikko, Jonathan’s ex-aide may be declared wanted

EFCC raid ex-Customs Comptroller-General Dikko’s home

Some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and policemen yesterday raided the Abuja residence of the immediate past Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Inde Dikko.

EFCC

The raid was said to be in connection with the ongoing probe of the tenure of Dikko who retired from service on August 3, 2015.

But Dikko and his wife were said to be away from Abuja as at the time of the invasion.

The agents, however, met Dikko’s children at home and they allowed the operatives unhindered access to the house which is located on 6, Ahmed Musa, Street, Jabi, Abuja.

According to a highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said the security agents came in two vehicles with registration numbers RSH 555 AB and BWA 645 GA.

The source said the agents presented a warrant before entering the building to conduct a “search”.

The source said: “The operatives and policemen came at about 7am and for about four and a half hours, they ransacked the residence of the former Comptroller-General.

“Although they did not molest anyone in the house, they ignored our plea that the ex-CG and his wife were not around.

“They were certainly looking for some documents or evidence, but they were not forthcoming on their mission.”

Findings, however, revealed that the ex-CG is being investigated over alleged curious N3billion vote spent by the NCS a few days to the handing over to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The said cash, which was allegedly spent on the directive of the presidency, was regarded as “unjustifiably used” by the customs management.

“Before the handover to the new government, there were curious expenditures incurred by the Customs Service acting on orders from above.

“Based on shock findings and clues, the EFCC is investigating the allegations. The operatives went to Dikko’s residence to conduct a search and effect his arrest.

“There are also issues bordering on the alleged diversion of customs revenues to fund the campaign of the PDP and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and 2015.”

No EFCC official was available for comments as at the time of filing this report.

Before the EFCC’s raid, a pressure group identified as the Nigerian Customs Transparency Initiative(NCTI) had petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged abuse of office, disappearance of some containers and N3.5 billion incurred on the installation of Internet facility by the Customs Service.

In the petition, which was signed by one Dr. James Onoja, the NCTI said: “The Customs Board was kept in the dark as promotions were manipulated and Customs officials were selectively elevated. Bootlickers, favourites and stooges were elevated to juicy and sumptuous positions and postings to Lagos and Port-Harcourt ports.

“Meritocracy was slaughtered on the altar of mediocrity and reckless abuse of office with unmitigated religious and ethnic bias. Purchase of vehicles: Prices of B.M.W vehicles for senior officers were criminally inflated. About N3.5 billion naira was siphoned and frittered away through an internet project that never saw daylight.

“Thirteen containers at T.C.I.P. were impounded sometime ago. It was claimed that four Iranians were arrested with the containers, two of which disappeared into the thin air.

“There is false declaration of Annual Customs Revenue Generation. In order to give false impression of excellent performance, the Customs Service adds figure of the Value Added Tax (VAT) which Customs collects on behalf of Federal inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the revenue derived from custom duties whereas the same VAT figure has been included in the VAT revenue declared and announced by FIRS as required by law, thereby creating a misleading duplication of revenue figure derived from VAT.

“The contract for the construction of Customs Staff College was aided and abetted by a Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, who was not a member of Nigerian Customs Board. The company used for the contract was registered three weeks after the award of the contract. Also, the estate named Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Customs Barracks at Kuje was purchased at the inflated rate of N4billion and renovated with N10billion.”

The ICPC was still on the investigation of the petition as at the time of filing this report.

EFCC raid ex-Customs Comptroller-General Dikko’s home