EFCC arrests former Minister, others over alleged $2billion arms deal

November 30, 2015Ogechi Ekeanyanwu

Bashir Yuguda

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and a number of top officials from the office of the National Security Adviser over the controversial arms procurement scandal surrounding former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

Multiple sources at the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Yuguda was arrested Monday afternoon and was currently being quizzed by detectives.

Our sources said a huge amount of money; “running into billions” was allegedly traced to the former minister from funds meant for arms procurement.

“The funds were directly transferred to him from the NSA office and he has been unable to explain the rationale for the transfer,” a source said.

“The transfers were made to his account between December 2014 and May 2015.”

Also arrested over the same matter, according to our sources, are some senior officials at the NSA office, including the director of finance.

“The suspects are being grilled by crack detectives and may not be allowed to go home soon,” one source said.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was yet to be briefed on the arrests.

“I’m aware that our detectives are looking into the case but I’m not sure who and who has been taken in,” Mr. Uwujaren said on telephone.

He promised to revert as soon details become available.

A presidential investigations committee into arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan administration had said in its interim report that 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.

But Mr. Dasuki has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying all contracts and accruing payments on arms procurement were made based on the approval of Mr. Jonathan, adding that due process and military procurement regulations were followed in all the transactions.

“Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment,” Mr. Dasuki in a recent statement.

Mr. Jonathan however said in Washington last week that his government never awarded any contract in the range of $2 billion dollars.

“I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons,” Mr. Jonathan said, querying, “Where did the money come from?” and repeating emphatically that “I did not award a contract of $2billion for procurement of weapons”.

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Top News

OYO MEESI

The amount of stolen money I have read when PMB came to power is scaring. Dangote with all his business empire and wealth as the richest black man and African is worth around $4 billion and this includes cash and assets. How this moronic and greedy politicians steal huge amount that can make them compete with Dangote without doing anything aside stealing is overwhelming. These classic stories of treasury looting is really why “stealing is not corruption” but competition in Nigeria.
Tafidan Dogon Daji

We don’t mind reading and listening to sensational reports by the Nigerian press.All suspects were deemed to be innocent unless the contrary is proved.
I still say,Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is not a thief;however,we are living witnesses of frames,counter frames and a lot more set ups,as Allah pleases.
- Burbank
  
  Dasuki is NOT a thief; he only stole a few billions from Nigeria.
  That’s all.
  - Tafidan Dogon Daji
    
    Had it been you are in the position to substantiate and/or prove this allegation beyond reasonable doubt,you would have scared me Burbank,but never have i been moved by an inch!
    - Dodondawa
      
      Dasuki is not a thief. He did not steal, he only misappropriated few billion dollars.
      - aisha ani
        
        Dasuki “served his county with the best intention” and all contracts were approved by Mr President.
    - Burbank
      
      Please don’t move even half an inch!
      Comatose people should remain still.
      - Tafidan Dogon Daji
        
        Okay,thanks a lot for the rains;it doesn’t bother me at all!
  - Kñîghtš Tëmpłær
    
    They have dealt corruptly with Nigeria, warped and crooked creatures…It runs in the Gambari blood isn’t it ???
    - Burbank
      
      Whatever blood it is, those that steal from Nigeria will be burnt by Buhari
  - Paului
    
    Not enough evidence yet but calm down.
    - Burbank
      
      Calm down?
      I am not the one in DSS jail
- shegxy
  
  everybody is innocent until proven guilty but in this case they are still innocent but frankly they are all guilty in one way or the other
Kuku

God will punish all those who allowed our innocent gallant soldiers to die helplessly in the hand of insurgents without providing what was needful to fight BH. From Jonathan to Dasuki. …etc. as many of them that were involved. They’ll also die miserably like those vulnerable patriots who sacrificed their lives to keep us safe. Amen.
- Arogbo
  
  Ameeeeeen!!!
- Sonny Martin
  
  Amen .
- Kay Soyemi (Esq.)
  
  Bruv, before we hand them over to God, or the Devil as the case might be, I strongly feel we shout mete out our own punishment.
  
  These are financial crimes worthy and deserving of capital punishment in my opinion.
agbobu

SHAMELESS GANG OF THIEVES AND ROBBERS. SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!!!
NoBeLie

Madam Ngozi, Madam Deziani and now NSA Dasuki, all saying Jonathan approved their transactions… And it doesn’t look like Jonathan is ready to go down for anyone o.
- Arogbo
  
  I think Jonathan needs to be invited by the EFCC for questioning. How can he allow this huge misappropriation of public funds when our soldiers are dying daily for lack of the necessary military hardwares to prosecute the war? Jonathan should stop parading himself as statesman which he’s not period.
- aisha ani
  
  If na you nko? Don’t forget madame Patience already said she will not visit anyone in jail.
- Paului
  
  Madam Ngozi and Madame Deziani did not say anything. Just be patient while efcc sort things out.
  - Rotimi Lawanson
    
    My friend don’t put Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala amongst these people. Where is she now? God has a way of vindicating people. While Diezani is battling occultist cancer, where is Okonjo Iweala? She is being toasted and promoted internationally by governments whose agencies provide and have very detailed information on all our Nigerian politicians and leaders. They know who the thieves are because they have the dossiers on everyone. They are not easily deceived by our pay as you go journalists!!!!
Burbank

EFCC under Ibrahim Magu cracking Buhari’s whip.
May the EFCC becomes the spearhead of Nigeria’s merciless war against corruption.
God bless Nigeria
Du Covenant

I have said this time without number that, weekly firing squads on Saturdays should be brought back to Nigeria for precisely for people in this category. GEJ was once quoted as saying there was BH in his govt but, he did not follow through. If these people did what is alleged and GEJ did not approve any such a huge contract for arms procurement confirms he had no business in Aso Rock, he was weak, incompetent, clueless and a lame duck president as suggested.
- Arogbo
  
  Jonathan is a dumb ass hole for allowing Dasuki to bamboozle him. What a country!
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Ogom

Another day, another arrest. Endless accusations and counter arguments on the pages of newspapers. When will anyone actually be taken to court and found guilty or publicly cleared?

EFCC has forgotten how to build and present cases in court. The judges have forgotten how to hear cases (without ‘sweetener’). And it seems this current administration has lost faith in the whole system. It looks like they’ve settled for shaking down the crooks to return (some of) the money and letting them off with small disgrace and a gentle smack on the wrist. No body goes to jail.

This approach doesn’t instil confidence in the Nigerian public. It doesn’t send the right message, since we never get to the truth proven in open court. “We’ve recovered N1 trillion!” they announce, but we don’t know who from, etc.

This is NOT ‘change’.
- Arabakpura
  
  Ogom E gbunam! You are too much in a hurry!
- Otile
  
  The whole thing is a sham devised to deceive gullible people. It is called: too much smoke without fire. Our oil money have been stolen by Yoruba Fulani, the noise does not solve anything.
- Basket Mouth
  
  Yes…..this approach does not instill confidence..
  
  We should revert back to Joinathan’s “try your luck” approach! Omuti!
shegxy

Authority steal pass armed robber“`FELA mode activated
GbemigaO

My heart goes out to the gallant , ill equipped, unsupported , suffering soldiers detained, jailed , condemned to death all in the name of no equiopment and money while some people are stealing the country blind!
- aisha ani
  
  It is very unfortunate, the likes of Babaginda turned the Nigerian military to something else.
  - Basket Mouth
    
    Really?
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Otile

Allah, the money in question is almost equivalent to the $2.8 billions PTF fund missing in 1984. The Fulani man has fleeced Nigeria without mercy. Unfortunately they don’t use the money to erect good structures in Nigeria. What did Lukman do with the $trillions he stole? They don’t help to develop Nigeria. When hardworking people develop they destroy. Separation is the answer.
- aisha ani
  
  We are in this together, you ain’t going nowhere, “the snail cannot leave its shell behind”.
  - Basket Mouth
    
    Let them go! Perhaps they know nothing of the topics being discussed at COP21.
    Let them go and meet their fate.
- OYO MEESI
  
  You moron there was no PTF in 2004
sammyctu ode

All these corruption revelations are too disgusting and portrays we Nigerians as heartless, uncivilized, evil, people with no conscience and lower animals. How can a serving minister under Jonathan be found with billions in his accounts especially at a time millions of Nigerians are suffering? It is time for PMB to take the bold step and invite Jonathan for questioning because we all know that nobody can approve all these billions of withdrawals without the approval of the sitting president. Jonathan has no right and morally bankrupt to float a foundation with stolen money from the Nigerian state. He should be hauled to various courts to face charges of corruption and defining the oath of office he swore to protect.
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shola

THE MORE ALL THESE IMBECILES AND TREASURY LEADERS ARE ARRESTED, THE BIGGER NIGERIA XMAS GIFTS. GOD BLESS NIGERIA AND DESTROY THE LOOTERS.