The trail by government on how about $2billion meant for arms purchased to battle the Boko Haram insurgency was diverted for other purposes continues to reveal shocking acts on the part of officials responsible for appropriating the funds.
Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), revealed how $47million cash was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 11 suit cases, which he delivered to the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki. According to him, the money might have been given to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to prosecute the 2015 elections. Salisu made the revelation in a Statement of Witness/Accused he wrote under oath while with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The statement was attached to the charges preferred against Salisu and filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in preparation for his arraignment by the EFCC today before Justice H.Y. Baba and Justice P.O. Affen. He said however, that as a civil servant, he was innocent because he only carried out instructions from the ex-National Security Adviser, Mr. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki.
Salisu, who said he did not benefit from all the slush funds from the CBN, said: “I could remember on the 20/11/2014 , I was directed by the NSA, M.S. Dasuki to go to the CBN and collect the sum of $47m in cash and the balance in Euro and the directive was obeyed and the monies were delivered to the NSA in about 11 suit cases.
“I acknowledged the receipt of the money from the CBN which was handed over to M.S. Dasuki. “I think the monies were meant for PDP. After delivery, I left, I did not see or know when the money was distributed.
“I did not benefit even one cent. The request for the funds was tagged Special Services signed by the NSA, M.S. Dasuki, addressed to the Governor of CBN.
“I did not know the source of the money into our CBN Account. The foreign currencies that I collected from the CBN were delivered to the NSA in his house, No. 13, John Kadiya Street, Asokoro”, Salisu said.
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Ishaq Bello, Thursday ordered that Salisu be either arraigned in a competent court of law if there is any basis for so doing or be released on administrative bail on terms to be settled by the applicant.
www.ripples.com.ng/dasuki-got-47m-in-11-suitcases-court-told/