NIA dismisses former DG Dauda






The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has dismissed its immediate past Director-General Ambassador Muhammed Dauda, Daily Trust learnt yesterday. The agency, responsible for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations, has been embroiled in leadership crisis since the appointment of its current Director General, Dr Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, by President Muhammadu Buhari, in January. Ambassador Dauda was dismissed through a letter dated March 6, signed by T.A. Yusuf, on behalf of the director general of the agency. A top security official who declined being named because of the sensitivity of the matter confirmed the story to Daily Trust last night.




Dauda was acting head of the intelligence agency from November 2017 to January 2018. The former director general was also warned in the letter by the NIA not to engage in anything “inimical” to the agency’s operations, or he would risk being tried for treason, the security source said.




The dismissal, which this newspaper gathered was without the knowledge of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), was said to have been approved by President Buhari.





Daily Trust couldn’t establish last night why the dismissal was done by the NIA itself, instead of the NSA or the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). It was also not clear whether the NIA, going by the law establishing it, is constitutionally empowered to sack its senior officers. Ambassador Dauda had spent 34 years in service of the intelligence agency. Earlier on Monday, armed security operatives, said to be NIA combat agents, invaded the official residence of the embattled former DG, located in Maitama District, Abuja. For three days, the residence on No 3 Osara Lane, off Osara Close, Maitama, Abuja was cordoned by about 30 armed operatives.





Security sources said the operatives were there to effect the arrest of the ambassador. Dauda was on tour of duty in the Republic of Chad as ambassador before his redeployment to Abuja to head the agency after the suspension of Mr Ayodele Oke. He was reported to have gone into hiding after his testimony before the House of Representatives committee on national intelligence and public safety last month, citing threats to his life. It was learnt that he was asked to return to his post in Chad by the new leadership at the NIA to continue with his tour of duty.




But Dauda didn’t comply with that directive, saying his life would be endangered in N’djamena because his cover as an intelligence chief was removed after his redeployment to lead the NIA. The ex-NIA chief had made serious allegations against some members of the presidential panel led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, during his appearances at the House of Representatives committee and the EFCC.




The dismissal came after Dauda’s alleged refusal to appear before a disciplinary panel set up to try him for allegedly bringing the agency into disrepute. Another source said the senior management committee raised to try him was peopled by officers who are Mr Dauda’s junior in service. But the NIA reviewed the committee membership by bringing retired directors as members, which sources said is against its extant rules. The committee was put in place without any input from the NSA’s office, even though he oversees the entire intelligence superstructure of the country.





Daily Trust learnt last night that an approval was given by the Presidency for $44 million earlier moved to the NSA’s office to be returned to the NIA’s vault. Daily Trust findings revealed that the $44 million was part of the over $260 million that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration released to NIA as General Intervention Fund.




At the time Buhari administration launched an investigation into the funds last year, only the N15 billion cash discovered in Lagos and the $44million lying in the Abuja vault remained to be expended out of the original $260million, security sources said.




As soon as it started its probe, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led committee directed that the money must remain in NIA’s vault as an exhibit, Daily Trust learned.




The sources, however, said, “While the money remained in the vault, certain powerful forces mounted pressure on the acting DG, Ambassador Mohammed Dauda, who was redeployed from Chad, to use the money since it is the property of the NIA but the acting DG refused.”




According to our sources, the “powerful forces” pushed very hard for the money to be tampered with, saying the government had forgotten all about it, but for the firm resistance of the outgoing acting DG.



Our sources added, “But barely two days after President Buhari named a substantive head for the agency, a black bullion van was dispatched to NIA and the money was removed to an unknown destination around 6 am on a Friday.”



https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amplite/nia-dismisses-former-dg-dauda.html

Gbam

We will reinstate him when we sack APC. And probe the current DG , Babagana and Kyari.

Because he foiled an attempt to steal $44m by Buboo henchmen.

The former director general was also warned in the letter by the NIA not to engage in anything “inimical” to the agency’s operations, or he would risk being tried for treason, the security source said.

This threat is to shut him up from spilling more of their dirty linens.

Buboo corruption fight is nothing but a gargantuan fraud.

This is pure proof that Buhari in nothing but a criminal sent by the devil to destroy Nigeria

it's lent so am not commenting at all

2019 Is coming, buhari and the cabal are looking for every possible means to enrich themselves while silly bmc is here killing them selves over meager stipend. well 99 days for the thief,one day for Nigeria

Corruption everywhere you go

Just because he didn't oblige to their corruption delicates and demand ...

Buhari see what your family members are turning the country into ..

Fighting corruption my foot..

BMC crew come and defend as usual

It is very shameful that our intelligence structure is now subject to such scandals. If the president is truly serious about his anti-corruption campaign, the he should have swung into action, suspended all the parties involved and set up a panel of inquiry into the whole affair.



Anyone found culpable should be sacked and put on trial.



I don't even think it is right for the head of our intelligence agency to hold dual citizenship to any country.

Anything that will politically destroy a blind and deaf chameleon called Buhari is always welcomed by me.

I can't believe it is this useless creature we thought would help us fight corruption.

This president has no control whatsoever over his own administration.

I thought they were fighting corruption, somebody told the parliament they wanted to steal $44 million of our money, instead of promoting and giving him recognition you fired him


The former Acting NIA DG will be reinstated pronto when we take over in 2019 because he is very patriotic to our fatherland. We will arrest and jail with hard labour the following powerful cabal members that combined to sack him: Babangana Kingibe, Abba Kyari, Ahmed Abubakar, Maman Daura and other criminal elements of the soon to be former President.

Kwarruption is fighting back. Where are PMB defenders come and defend the dismissal of a man who exposed corruption .

Anti corruption my nyash

The ex-NIA chief had made serious allegations against some members of the presidential panel led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, during his appearances at the House of Representatives committee and the EFCC.
This is the genesis of the recent scandal.Buhari anti-corruption war remains a charade.Nnukwu Thunder gbagbue ndi sai baba zombies them.

Rumour?

No matter how tired I am, seeing BUHARI on TV always give me d strength to get up and change d channel..

Nutase:
Kwarruption is fighting back. Where are PMB defenders come and defend the dismissal of a man who exposed corruption .

there is a 99% chance you won't read their comments on this particular thread.


the 1% that would comment would insult every one that points out the hypocrisy of pmb's skewered anti corruption fight.


they are presently having discussions on how best to 'protect' the integrity of pmb.

Lean ass corrupt hypocritical dulllard !