By Ronald Mutum
Embattled Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has said all contracts on arms purchase and payments where done with the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The ex-NSA in a statement yesterday also described allegations of fraud leveled against him by a presidential committee probing arm purchases when Dasuki was NSA as baseless.
He further described as theatrical how the Presidency fed the public with many allegations against him and yet to be named former public officers.
Dasuki said 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.
He added that the retired AVM J.O.N Ode-led panel did not invite him under any guise before arriving at its findings.
The statement said: “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.”
He said 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,” he added.
“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,” he said.
He said 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.
Dasuki also said “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 Operation 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.”
He stated that: “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,” Dasuki noted.
He said: “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,” Dasuki stated.
DailyTrust
Img: Enconium
