Dasuki did not steal $2.2 billion – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan
on Monday said it was impossible for
the National Security Adviser (NSA)
during his administration, Sambo
Dasuki, to have stolen $2.2 billion as
claimed by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr. Dasuki, who has been in detention
since December 1, 2015, was arrested
by the State Security Service for
allegedly misappropriating $2.2 billion
meant to purchase equipment for the
Nigerian military in its battle against
the terrorist Boko Haram group.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court,
Abuja, last Friday granted an
application by the EFCC to consolidate
two separate cases against the former
army Colonel.
A statement by the anti-graft
commission said Mr. Dasuki would be
re-arraigned on November 16.
Mr. Jonathan, who spoke at the famous
Oxford Union, Oxford United Kingdom,
on youth entrepreneurship, argued
that it was “not just possible” for Mr.
Dasuki to have stolen $2.2 billion after
his administration procured several
equipment for the country’s military.
“They said the National Security
Adviser stole $2.2billion. I don’t
believe somebody can just steal $2.2
billion. 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 2.2
billion, so where did we get the money
to buy all those things?” he asked
while responding to a question about
the alleged missing arms procurement
fund now referred to as Dasukigate by
the Nigerian media.
While admitting that corruption was an
issue during his administration, the
former president said some of the
allegations were “exaggerated”.
“Yes, there were some issues; yes,
there are still corruption issues; but
some of it were blown, I’d say
exaggerated, and they give a very bad
impression about our nation. You
cannot say the national security
adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just
possible,” he said.
He, however, said that as some of the corruption
cases were still in court, he would rather allow the
legal processes to reveal the facts of the matter and
that he did not want to appear as challenging the
incumbent government.
“One thing about the issue of corruption is that
these matters are in court, let’s allow some of these
processes to end. Lately some judges’ (homes) were
also invaded. There are so many things involved and
we have to follow up these matters to conclusion
before we know the fact.
“I don’t want to be seen as a former president
challenging what the sitting government is doing so I
have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into
them,” he said.
He said allegations of corruption were not unique to
his administration.
He explained that governments had been
overthrown in the past because they were accused of
being corrupt, only for the new administration itself
to be pushed out by another junta touting the anti-
corruption mantra.
“You will see that it has become a major topic
whenever there is a change of government,” he said.
He further argued that corruption was a global
problem, but said the perception of corruption was
greater in Nigeria due to the Nigerian media’s
obsession with reporting on corruption.
“I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria,
there is corruption. If you look at corruption there
is almost no country that is free, the degree varies,
the perception varies,” he said.
“Transparency International talks about the way
corruption is being perceived in different
economies, why do we talk about the way corruption
is being perceived, it depends on the issue raised in
the media every day.”

Source: Premiumtimesng