- Dasuki drags FG to ECOWAS Court
A former minister has sneaked out of the country as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) closed in on the suspected architects of an alleged N3.145b fraud, The Nation learnt yesterday. Six chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) have been named in the investigations.
The cash, meant for the funding of the campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan was drawn on the orders of the Presidential Villa and paid into a coded account tagged Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Library. The account was said to have been deployed by the Presidential Villa (allegedly on Dr. Jonathan’s instructions) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for “strategic assignments”.
Some of the key suspects, including some bureaucrats, have offered to return the funds, even as the EFCC plans to invite some of those implicated for interrogation “any moment from now”. According to sources, the former minister left the country on Sunday, her destination unknown – as at press time.
A source, who spoke in confidence “in order not to jeaopardise the investigation”, said: “The EFCC has been on the case for some time and one or two of the suspects at a point came to make statements. But one of the former ministers who, was also connected with the matter has jetted out.
“The ex-minister left the country quietly on Sunday. No one can say her actual destination and whether or not it was a routine trip abroad or a self-imposed exile. “The reality is that there is no hiding place for any former public officer. Wherever a suspect is, the EFCC will repatriate such a person.” It was confirmed last night that the N3.145 billion was drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) following directives from the Presidential Villa.
The cash was wired into the coded account. It was learnt that after the withdrawal of the cash from CBN, an account was provided by the Director of Finance of the PDP Presidential Campaign, former Minister Nenadi Usman, for disbursement to beneficiaries.
Another source added: “The CBN released the funds based on orders from the Presidential Villa. Some documents on the withdrawal have been obtained by the EFCC.
“From the preliminary investigation, MEA was a coded account used by the Presidential Villa and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for strategic assignments, including funding of the re-election campaign of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“After the cash was moved to MEA account, it was moved into the account of Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited, which was allegedly provided by ex-Minister Nenadi Usman. “In fact, some of the bureaucrats connected with the withdrawal of the funds from the CBN have not been comfortable. Some suspects have actually offered to return the cash quietly to EFCC.
“I am aware that some persons have made statement to the EFCC on what they knew about the deal. But most of the beneficiaries have not been quizzed. They will soon be invited by the EFCC for interrogation and how to return the money.”
The beneficiaries include a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (N840m); a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae (N100m); a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman(N36.9m); a former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa and a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Viola Onwuliri(N350m) and Okey Ezenwa(N100m).
One of the beneficiaries, who spoke in strict confidence, said: “The cash was actually N2billion as reported to the campaign directorate. “When ex-Minister Nenadi Usman briefed us, some of us insisted on knowing the source(s) of the funds.
In fact, somebody asked repeatedly whether or not the cash was from public funds but she told us that the money came from some private individuals. She disclosed some names behind the so-called “donation.”
“Having heard that the cash was donated to the campaign, we decided to use it for that purpose. None of us knew that the money came from the CBN and it was also disbursed through a company’s account which Nenadi Usman said she had been using for her campaign.
“Now, we are just realizing that the N3.145billion was drawn from the CBN. It is just unfortunate. Some of us would have rejected the cash if we knew it came from the apex bank.”
In the meantime, the embattled immediate past National Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has dragged the Federal Government before the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Court of Justice over his continued detention without trial since December 2015. Dasuki who was rearrested by the operatives of the Department of the State Security Service, DSS, shortly after perfecting the third bail granted him by the Nigerian Court, is asking the ECOWAS Court to enforce his fundamental rights as enshrined in the African Carter on the people and human rights and the Nigerian Constitution.
In the suit filed by his counsel Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, the former NSA is asking the ECOWAS Court to declare his arrest since last year without a lawful court order as unlawful, unconstitutional and breach of his fundamental right. The applicant also prayed the court to declare as unlawful and violation of his right to dignity of human person, privacy and family life guaranteed and protected right under Section 34 and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right and Article 12 of the Universal of Human Right, the action of the Federal Government of Nigeria for keeping him in a dehumanising condition after he has been granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction and after he had fulfilled bail conditions for his release.
He therefore prayed for an order of ECOWAS Court compelling the Federal Government or its agents to forthwith release him and also to order government to release to him all his unlawfully seized properties during the invasion of his houses.
Besides, Dasuki also prayed for an order of injunction restraining the Federal Government and its agents from further harassing, threatening, intimidating or infringing or interfering with his fundamental rights as guaranteed under relevant national and international laws on human rights protection. Apart from seeking for his release to face adequately charges in court, Dasuki also demanded a compensatory damages of N500 million against the government for its egregious violations of his rights as guaranteed under the law. However, at the hearing yesterday, the Federal Government through its counsel Mr. T. A. Gazalli objected to Dasuki’s case on the ground that he has already been charged to Nigerian courts for various alleged offences.
The counsel argued that the ECOWAS Court has no jurisdiction to enforce the bail conditions granted Dasuki because it cannot sit as an appellate court to the Nigerian courts. He therefore urged the court not to entertain the case.
In opposing the application, counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Wale Balogun, urged the court to dismiss the objection of the Federal Government for being misconceived and misplaced to the request of Dasuki before the Court. Balogun told a panel of three Justices of ECOWAS Court, led by Justice Friday Chijioke Nwoke that what Dasuki was asking for is the enforcement of his fundamental rights to freedom, having being arrested and detained since December 2015 without trial or any lawful court order.
The Nation with additional report from National Mirror