EFCC boss says he has no documents linking Goodluck to $2.1bn Dasukigate scam

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have revealed that they cannot arrest former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan in relation to the ongoing $2.1bn Dasukigate scam as there are no documents showing he authorised the payments.

 

Over about the last month, the EFCC has been embroiled in the Dasukigate scandal in which money budgeted for the purchase of military hardware was diverted to private accounts. In an elaborate act of fraud, money voted for military purposes was used to fund the ruling Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) election campaign with former national security adviser Col Sambo Dasuki acting as the conduit through which the money was disbursed.

 

Already, several PDP leaders have asked Dr Jonathan to reveal all he knows about the matter and point out whether he approved the payments or not. However, EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu, has said that so far, no document has been traced to Dr Jonathan giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any purpose other than arms purchase.

 

He said that all those questioned so far in connection with the money were people who disbursed or collected it for reasons other than the purchase of arms and ammunition. Among those arrested include a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari and a former military administrator of Kaduna State Jafaru Isah, the PDP's publicity secretary Chief Olisa Metuh and the chairman of Daar Communications Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

 

Mr Magu added: “All approvals by former president Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes. All the memos approved by him were for the purchase of arms.”

 

At least two of the beneficiaries have said they will not return the cash paid out to them, with Chief Metsu saying he will rather starve than return the N400m (£1.36m) he is said to have got from the scam.  Another beneficiary, the former secretary to the federal government and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, also insisted that he would not refund the N100m (£341,672) he collected from Chief Tony Anenih, the former chairman of the PDP's board of trustees, which was said to have come from Col Dasuki.

 

Apparently, Chief Anenih and Chief Falae entered into a working relationship prior to the 2015 presidential election. Under the terms of the deal, the SDP would support Dr Jonathan's presidential campaign and Chief Falae said the cash he received was spent funding the party's nationwide campaigning.