Jonathan Denies $2b Arms Contracts

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked claims by the current administration that he awarded contracts of two billion US dollars for the procurement of arms for the military.

Speaking on Friday in Washington DC where he attended an event, Jonathan queried;

“Where did that kind of money come from? I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons."

He complained that some people were out to rubbish his achievements in office, pointing out that there was no way Nigerian budget could accommodate such a loss.

“In Nigeria, if you lose $59.8 million in a year, federal and state governments will not pay salaries, ”he said

It would be recalled that in 2014, Jonathan had sought the approval of the Senate to appropriate $1b to procure arms for the successful prosecution of the fight against terrorism.

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Over 20000 Security Personnel Deployed For Kogi Election

No less than 20,000 security personnel comprising, 11,000 regular police, 5,000 Mobile Policemen and 6,000 Civil Defence Corps personnel have been deployed to monitor today's governorship election in Kogi State.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase disclosed this at a stakeholders' meeting in Lokoja earlier in the week.

He assured Kogi people that the police will ensure the security of lives and property in the state during and after the elections.

He also assured the political parties and candidates of a level playing ground in the elections.

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Dasuki, Others May Forfeit Assets To FG

In accordance with the enabling Act of Parliament, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC may seize the assets of former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, and some ex-military chiefs allegedly fingered in the misappropriation of N644 billion meant for arms procurement.

Sources said the anti-graft agency plans to invoke the temporary assets forfeiture clause as part of the ongoing probe of the arms procurement deals.

“The EFCC may invoke Assets Forfeiture clause to seize the properties of Dasuki and other Service Chiefs who allegedly diverted or misappropriated funds meant for arms procurement in line with sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC(Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

“Section 28 reads: ‘Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.

’“We have appreciable list of assets in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos and Port Harcourt to be attached. One of the affected officers built two mansions in Kaduna and Abuja under six months.

“A Service Chief is also being investigated for allegedly acquiring a property of the late first Civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha," said a source.

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Fake Arms Deals : Ex-Military Chiefs To Make Refunds?

Some of the former military chiefs and officers being investigated by the  Committee On Arms Procurement for multi-billion naira arms deals have volunteered to refund some money for unexecuted contracts.

A source close to the investigations said that ; “About four of such former officers have offered to make refunds. I think Dasuki does not know the extent to which the panel has gone in probing the arms deals.

“When the case gets to court, Nigerians will appreciate the depth of the investigation by the panel.”

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Arms Deal : Three Suspects On The Run

It has been learnt that three suspects in the multi-billion naira arms deals currently under investigation have sneaked out of the country to escape arrest. 

The suspects include a high profile Nigerian and two Israelis.

According to a reliable source, Government's seeming hard stance on Dasuki may be a direct consequence of the escape of the three suspects who are alleged to be his close allies.

“The government may appear to have been hard on Dasuki because three suspects implicated in the arms deal have sneaked out of the country. The suspects, including a top Nigerian and two Israelis, were rated as closer to Dasuki.

“Wherever they are, we will repatriate them accordingly. With the cooperation of some countries, there is no hiding place for any suspect.

“This is one of the reasons why the Federal Government does not want Dasuki to travel out for medical treatment.

“The Department of State Security Service (DSS) was proactive in placing one of the suspects on surveillance but the recourse to court made the affected culprit to leave the country.

“Another factor is that the cases against the ex-NSA are many and the government cannot say because of an isolated matter, he should be allowed to go abroad. What if he does not return to the country?” he said.

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Buhari To Attend Gas Exporters Meeting In Iran

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Sunday for the Iranian capital, Tehran to participate in the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries’ Forum (GECF) opening on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina in Abuja on Friday, President Buhari and other GECF leaders will be reviewing the current market outlook on gas and discuss strategies for boosting gas production.

GECF members currently account for 42 per cent of global gas production‎, 70 per cent of global gas reserves, 40 per cent of pipeline transmission of gas and 65 per cent of the global trade in Liquefied Natural Gas.

The statement  said that Buhari will also hold bilateral talks with other participating world leaders on the sidelines of the summit after which he will meet with Nigerians resident in Iran.

Scheduled to accompany the President on the trip are Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.).

The team is expected to return to Abuja on Nov.24.

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Kano Blast Victims Get N40m From FG

The Presidential Victims Support Fund has donated N40 million to victims of Wednesday's bomb attacks in Kano.

The money was on Friday given to victims of the blast currently receiving treatment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital  and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano.

Announcing the donation to the hospitals, the Executive Director of the Fund, Prof. Sunday Ochoche said his team was in Kano to sympathize with the victims of the terrorist attacks.

“The Fund gave N20 million to each of the two hospitals we visited, making it a total of N40 million.

“We are here to assist the victims and bring succor to the injured people,” he said.

Ochoche said that the Fund would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the hospitals involved on how the donation which is intended for the treatment of injured persons would be used.

He added that before coming to Kano, the Fund had visited 14 hospitals in the Northeast.

“The MoU will clearly state how the intervention should be distributed among the victims for their immediate medical needs and attention.

“We have so far given out N240 million for the affected victims, including the N40m million given to the Kano hospitals,” he said.

Two young female suicide bombers had on Wednesday detonated their explosive devices at the popular GSM market in Kano, killing 15 persons and leaving over 50 others injured.

According to security sources, a manhunt is on for the other occupants of the minivan which dropped off the suicide bombers at the area.

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