FORMER national security adviser Retired Col Sambo Dasuki has denied news reports that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his arrest or that he was invited to appear before an investigative panel on the procurement of hardware and munitions in the armed forces.
In office during the tenure of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Col Dasuki has been under investigation recently over his role in arms procurement. Widely blamed for the failure of the Nigerian military to deal with Boko Haram menace, Col Dasuki has been accused of diverting funds meant for arms purchase into private accounts.
On Tuesday President Buhari received the interim report of the investigative committee on arms procurement, which is believed to have indicted Col Dasuki. Over the last week, it has been reported that President Buhari personally ordered his arrest but Col Dasuki has denied ever receiving any formal or informal invitation to appear before any panel.
Col Dasuki said: “I have never been invited formally or informally to appear before the panel. I am therefore not only surprised but embarrassed by the seeming indictment by the panel purportedly operating from the Office of the National Security Adviser that never contacted me.
“For the record I am proud to serve my nation with the best of intention and ensuring the recovery of more than 22 local government councils from Boko Haram terrorists. Because of the pride of how we tackled terrorism and defeated Boko Haram terrorists through our gallant troops and partners in the twilight of the previous administration, I have insisted on open and public trial of my stewardship rather than secret trial in the court as being canvassed by my prosecutors.”
He added that he was surprised that the committee, which was to investigate procurement from 2007 to 2015, appears to only be focusing on him. According to Col Dasuki, only his name is being mentioned even when some of the issues were before he came into government.
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