Godfathers At War

  

We returned to our places, these kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods.

I should be glad of another death.”

1. Eliot: The Journey of the Magi

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer: Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”

1. B. Yeats, The Second Coming

Those two popular quotations sum up the story you are about to read. It is a story of high-wired intrigues and odoriferous power-play. When friends disagree, it is often very bad but when brothers fight it is always deadly. The tussle currently rocking Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital city is frightening. At the centre of the political fisticuffs are some of the most powerful security chiefs who have held Nigeria by the scruff for many decades. Many observers believe that the battle is a hangover from a malicious past when toes were stepped upon in the almost endless musical chairs of military governments.

The latest in the string of Nigerian super spooks is Colonel Sambo Dasuki.  Incidentally, Dasuki has generated more than enough controversy since returning from retirement to become the National Security Adviser under President Jonathan. He drew substantial attention and odium to himself after the speech he made at The Chatham House, London earlier this year where he canvassed the postponement of the 2015 general elections.

If it was initially thought to be a poor joke, it soon became a blatant reality. Prior to that, he was said to have been locked in a bitter, even if surreptitious war, with his brother-in-law, Lt. General Aliyu Gusau, a cat with nine lives and Nigeria’s most accomplished spook.

Gusau is married to Jemillah, the former wife of the late Aliyu Dasuki, Sambo Dasuki’s brother. Gusau  who had previously served as NSA under former President Obasanjo was brought back to government by former President Jonathan to manage the Defence Ministry.  However, according to impeccable sources, Sambo Dasuki and Aliyu Gusau could not work together due to irreconcilable personal differences. Thus the much-needed experience of Gusau which would have complemented Dasuiki’s expertise was virtually wasted at the altar of intractable rivalry.

Those who should know how things work in the military informed The Boss Newspapers  that the fatal error came from President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed the pugnacious in-laws and gave the junior officer retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the high profile position of National Security Adviser and made a retired General to report to him as Minister.

While Aliyu Gusau warmed the seat at the Ministry of Defence, by and large, Sambo Dauki had unfettered access to the President and together controlled the juicy security contracts. Most security meetings deadlocked while the warlords engaged in bickering and Boko Haram continued to wax stronger.  Many wondered why the in-laws could not settle their differences for the sake of a country that was haemorrhaging to death but the expected reconciliation became a mirage to the last day of the Jonathan Administration.

Then President Muhammadu stepped in and trouble of a different kind started for retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki. It wasn’t so obvious at first as Sambo Dasuki was seen around the new President a few times as he still retained his position as National Secrity Adviser.

It is still not clear how things went awry between them as many had thought that Sambo was in safe hands and may even possibly continue at his desk as NSA. What gave fillip to such permutation was the closeness of another of Dasuki’s brother-in-law, Mamman Daura, to President Muhammadu Buhari. Daura is supposed to be not just a relation but the President’s closest friend who practically lives inside the Presidential Villa in Abuja with his wife, Ummu Khulthum, daughter of the deposed Sultan Dasuki. Ummu Khulthum and Sambo are siblings: The same father and mother.

But man proposes and God disposes, things did not go as planned for Sambo. He was not confirmed as NSA but was unceremoniously removed from office-and from there things went downhill. Shortly thereafter, his homes  were raided, he was arrested and initially charged with treasonable felony offences.

Apparently, there was little evidence to sustain such grievous charges , he was later charged with possession of firearms  offences. Everything that could go wrong simply started going wrong and today the powerful in-laws are no longer at ease as things continue to fall apart. The ding-dong battle has gone on for months and no one knows how it would end. It is like a theatre of the absurd with very complicated plots, sub-plots and settings.

The drama came to a crescendo on Tuesday November 17, 2015, when the Presidential spokesman and Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, released a most damning report on the stewardship of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, a blue blood from the Sokoto Caliphate and a retired military officer. The content of the damaging release was said to have come from an “interim report” of a committee, headed by John Odeh, that was set up to probe financial activities at the office of the National Security Adviser in the Yar Adua and Jonathan Administrations.

While many Nigerians screamed at the stupendous figures being quoted by the government as payments made with no evidence of deliveries from the suppliers, supporters of the former NSA dismissed the report as mere witch-hunt. In case you missed Mr Femi Adesina’s press release, the details are as follows:

“On the authority of Mr President, a 13-man committee was set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date.

“While the committee, which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions.

“As part of the findings, the committee has analyzed interventions from some organizations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies.

“So far the total extra budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Hundred Naira and Eighteen Kobo (N643,817,955,885.18).

“The foreign currency component is to the tune of Two Billion, One Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand US Dollars and Eighty Three Cents ($2,193,815,000.83). These amounts exclude grants from the State Governments and funds collected by the DSS and Police.

“It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement.

“The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00; Fifty Three (53) were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.

“Interestingly, it was noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East.

“The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to the FGN.

“Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50, $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00. The contracts, which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition, were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.

“Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, 2 companies were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

“Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.

“The findings made so far are extremely worrying considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition. Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

“Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury, while innocent lives were wasted daily.

“In light of these findings, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the relevant organizations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts.”

On the surface of it, this report raises the stench of the supposed recklessness of the two administrations. The report was an open indictment against the former NSA and other security aparachiks who were ostensibly portrayed as  very corrupt and profligate officers.

At The Boss, our investigators decided to swing into action immediately. The instruction was for them to cover this combustive story from various angles. Attempts to reach the former NSA directly were stonewalled but we succeeded in speaking to a few family members who said they could not speak to the media because of the sensitivity of the matter. We were told to await a comprehensive response which was being put together by Sambo Dasuki and his legal team.

One family member who spoke in strict confidence told The Boss that “The government of Buhari is desperately looking for every excuse to hang an old foe, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.). Everyone knows that there has never been any love lost between the two of them since the Babangida coup that toppled the Buhari dictatorship and Sambo was Babangida’s Aide-de-Camp at the time…

“Though Sambo participated in the coup that brought Buhari to power in 1983, the same Sambo was one of the officers who toppled and arrested President Buhari in 1985 when Babangida took power. Buhari never forgave him…”

Asked if that’s enough excuse for covering up the looting of Nigerian treasury, our contact said the allegation against Sambo Dasuki was concocted. “Why the hurry to indict him when the full report of the panel was yet to be submitted? What is the business of the Presidential spokesman to personally announce the libellous report against Sambo or indeed all the other officers and persons indicted in the Press release? Why did they not leave the job to EFCC, the Police or even the office of The Attorney-General? That Adesina speech has already prosecuted and convicted Sambo, haba! In the desperation to punish Sambo, they betrayed their own desperation…”

We asked, why is every corruption case in Nigeria always justified with conspiracy theories and the man fired back at us: “This one is not about trying to justify anything but because it is a clear case of victimisation. They’ve accused him of all sorts since this saga started. They said he was a gun runner when the guns actually belonged to the soldiers in his house. They said the panel invited him and it is not true. When did DSS turn into a panel. They are looking for every excuse to disregard the High Court as well as the general rules of Law. Is it not too early to start exhibiting signs of political intolerance? If Sambo has erred, investigate and prosecute him properly and not in this kangaroo manner. Sambo did his best under very difficult circumstances… Wait for Sambo’s response…”

If the allegations are found to be substantially true, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki is in big trouble and many watchers and commentators believe that no amount of blackmail should stop the Buhari government from prosecuting him. But Sambo himself has fired back denying the very serious allegations levelled against him. In a lengthy and angry defence of his tenure as National Security Adviser, he insists he never took any action without seeking and getting clearance from his boss and Commander-in-Chief, President Goodluck Jonathan. His defiant response shows a clearly divided house of Nigeria’s biggest security Lords:

“ In a theatrical manner, the Presidency fed the public with many allegations against my person and yet to be named former public officers.

To draw sympathy, the Presidency quoted some absurd findings including extra-budgetary interventions; award of fictitious contracts; 53 failed contracts; payment for jobs without contractual agreements; non-execution of contracts for the purchase of 4 Alpha jets, bombs, and ammunition.

For undiscerning Nigerians, they may tend to assume that the allegations were true and pronounce the former National Security Adviser guilty as charged.

The statement issued by the special adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, who should know better as a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and a witness to history, was nothing sort of propaganda to cast aspersions on Dasuki.

To set the records straight, Nigerians should appreciate that the AVM Jonh Ode-led panel did not invite the ex-NSA under any guise before arriving at its ambiguous findings. At least, fairness demands that the panel ought to hear from Dasuki instead of its recourse to hasty conclusions. If the panel had been more patient and painstaking, it would have been availed of all relevant documents on some of the jaundiced findings.

As if acting a script, the Presidency alleged that the Panel accused Dasuki of awarding fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015. Contrary to this claim, Dasuki was not the NSA in March 2012 and he could not have awarded any contract in whatever name. The ex-NSA was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012.

All contracts and accruing payments were with the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Once the ex-President approved, the former NSA paid. So, there was due process for every purchase in line with regulations guiding arms procurement for the Armed Forces.

And Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced for suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment. For sensitive sectors (military/security), there was no room for awarding fictitious contracts. The conclusions of the panel were presumptive, baseless and lacked diligence.

There were no fictitious contracts; contract sums were not diverted and the relevant services in writing acknowledged delivery of equipment. For all procurements, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Nigerian Navy have their contractors.

While awaiting judicial process on these allegations, it is proper to make some references to show that the presidency was just desperate to hang some former public and military officers who served this nation at the risk of their lives.

It is laughable for the panel to assume that 4 Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered. In a memo to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), referenced NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters.

On 10/21/14, the Chief of Air Staff also confirmed the receipt of F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000. The same Air Force confirmed getting 2xTri Shield 36DG Tactical radars

In another letter of December 1, 2014 signed by L.S. Alao (on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff), the Air Force said it received five containerized fuel storage and dispensing units with equipment.

The Nigerian Army wrote the ONSA to acknowledge the delivery of 14 armoured tanks. In a December 13, 2014 memo, the Brigade of Guards thanked ONSA for releasing N30m for RCA, Operation allowance for Troops on Op Urban Sweep II for third and fourth quarters of 2014. This is apart from the installation of CCT Cameras at the Brigade Headquarters, 2 backscatter bomb detection vans and other equipment.

On November 26, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform (in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs.

These are some of the acknowledgment letters submitted to me by the end-users (the services). It is not for me to go and find out whether the equipment were delivered or not. I am not the one keeping the inventories.

To show that I have nothing to hide, I submitted a comprehensive list of all requests for procurements by the services, the items bought and those equipment being awaited to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari long before I left office. If there were issues, I should have been questioned. I was just the clearing house, I did not award contracts to my company or proxies. There was no contract awarded or equipment bought without approval from the then President and Commander-In-Chief. I am not a thief or treasury looter as being portrayed.

In order not to endanger the nation’s security, there are many salient issues and contracts which I cannot put in public domain. I am ready for trial on all these allegations in order to prove to Nigerians that I did nothing untoward in office. We will certainly meet in court.

I have a lot to tell Nigerians but in the interim, they should not believe some of the allegations as the gospel truths. The good thing is that some of the key actors in the present administration were parts of the past process being viciously challenged.

As for my tenure as the nation’s NSA, I acted in the interest of the nation and with utmost fear of God. I did not use the office for any self-serving agenda. I occupied the Office of the National Security Adviser at a difficult moment in Nigerian history when terrorism was at its peak and I am leaving posterity to judge me accordingly.”

In reply the Presidency stated that Dasuki was lying because he had been invited by the DSS on two occasions after the Odeh investigation panel was inaugurated with a DSS officer amongst the members, but his lawyers had declined to honour the invitation by the DSS citing the flagrant breach of Court orders in this respect.

The Presidency response also stated that some security and service chiefs would soon be invited to appear before the Panel.  Whilst some would be prosecuted for their part in the corruption scandal, others would testify as witnesses.

Analysts, and security experts have faulted this response by stating that the DSS invitation of Dasuki could never be equated to an invitation by the AVM John Odeh Panel.  The DSS invitation at no time referred to the investigation by AVM Odeh. “Even when the Dasuki lawyers declined to attend the first time the DSS did not say that the matters they were investigating and seeking clrification about related to a separate matter before the Odeh Panel and not the previous matters which the lawer was referring to.”

In addition it is clear from the Presidency’s response that even the Service Chiefs have not yet been invited to appear before the panel.  As one lawyers observes, “notwithstanding this fact, the Presidency has seemingly concluded that some of them would be prosecuted whilst others would testify as witnesses. The criteria for choosing who would be sacred cow and who would be a sacrificial lamb has not been spelt out.  It makes everything look like working to the answer. An elevated form of jungle justice!”. Another lawyer was of the opinion that this speaks volume for the much vaunted respect for the rule of law and sense of justice which President Buhari and indeed the erudite, learned and noble Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN have continued to espouse.

To add to the potent mix, former President Jonathan, in far away Washington DC, America, claimed at a forum co-hosted by the National Democratic Institute and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies that he was not aware of the award of any US$2 billion contract for the procurement of weapons.  The former President wondered aloud “Where did the money come from? I did not award a contract of $2billion for procurement of weapon.”

Former President Jonathan’s response further begs many questions. The most important question which he seemingly rhetorically asked is, “where did the money come from”? If the former President does not know where US$2 billion came from to supposedly purchase the weapons in the first place then there is majort trouble in Nigeria o! Of course the simple answer may be in the fact that nobody seems to be saying the contract was awarded in one lot but over a period.  That raises anotther issue which is best left to be dealt with at another time as to the capacity and capability of the former President’s knowledge and understanding of things that were happening around him.

A few security experts told The Boss that this saga is turning out to be a war of the Generals and it is fast becoming a war of attrition, vindictiveness and vendetta which is turning very messy and dangerous for a nation which is at war with terrorists. “The way in which this (Dasuki) matter is being handled cannot augur well for this great nation. The security of Nigeria should not be so exposed on the pages of newspapers…”, according to a retired military officer.

A lawyer also told us that President Buhari needs to learn from President Obasanjo and tidy up his anti-corruption war or he would spend four years chasing these guys and achieve nothing…”

The lawyer believes that a powerful EFCC and a reformed Police Force can turn things around for Nigeria. He insists the Presidency should never be seen to be directly interested in any case other than to assist when required in brokering a negotiated settlement that would achieve the desired effect of making corrupt personalities disgorge their ill gotten lucre. It is noteworthy that General Obasanjo recovered most of the money that was returned to Nigeria by corrupt officials and personalities linked with the Abacha government through extra judicial means and civil litigation rather than through criminal prosecutions. Nigerians want corrupt officials brought to book but more importantly they want their stolen waelth returned sooner than later.

The Boss enjoins this Government to remember that neither the war against corruption nor the war against terrorists can ever be won in a lifetime. What can be done is to limit the incidences of both of these national scourges and cankerworms. To base the existence and raison d’etre of the Government only on these two pillars is to lose focus of the real basis of Government which is to provide an enabling ambient environment for the progress of the country and its citizens.  There are more fundamental institutions and structures which need to be enhanced and strengthened especially in the area of education, social welfare and provision of basic amenities of life. Nigeria waits!

The Bossnewspaper.com