FORMER president Dr Goodluck Jonathan's spokesman Dr Reuben Abati has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his role in the alleged Dasukigate scandal in which $2.1bn meant for arms purchases was embezzled.
Between 2011 and 2015, Dr Abati was Dr Jonathan's official spokesman and yesterday, he was picked up by the EFCC for allegedly taking cash from former national security adviser Col Sambo Dasuki. Dr Abati, who arrived at the EFCC offices on Formella Street in Abuja, was questioned by operatives on the various sums of money he allegedly collected from Col Dasuki.
An EFCC spokesman said: “We invited Abati to our office to clear the air on the records before us that he received at various times various sums of money from the Office of the National Security Adviser (Onsa) and we want him to furnish us with the details of the payment and the purposes of such disbursements. One of the vouchers from the Onsa shows that he collected N50m from the office but we want him to justify why he received money from the $2.1bn meant for arms purchase to fight insurgents.
“There are many vouchers attributed to the former presidential spokesman but we will take them one after the other until we get satisfactory answers from him. Abati came on his volition based on our invitation and our operatives are talking to him as we speak.”
Last week, Dr Abati wrote a piece suggesting that forces of darkness prevailing at the presidential villa were responsible for the lack of progress in the land. This write-up elicited prompt reaction from his successor, Femi Adesina, and other commentators.
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