 |
Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd)
|
Department of State Security (DSS) operatives yesterday
invaded the Abuja home of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA),
Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to arrest him.
There were speculations last night
that Dasuki had been arrested, but The
Nation could not confirm it.
It was learnt that the attempt to
arrest Dasuki was in connection with the probe of ex-Service Chiefs by the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Nation yesterday reported exclusively that a probe of
the former chiefs was in the smithy.
A highly-placed source said the
movement of the ex-Service Chiefs might be restricted to the country,
pending the conclusion of preliminary investigations into how military budgets
were run in the last five years.
The DSS operatives stormed Dasuki’s
Asokoro Quarters compound at about 7.30pm. He was breaking his Ramadan
fast.
They could not surmount the security
barricade.
It was gathered that the former NSA
was caught unawares because there was no official invitation by the DSS or any
communication as required of his status.
His Sokoto home was also under
siege, a source said.
The source said: “The ex-NSA was
shocked that he was not contacted or invited for interaction on any issue.
“Dasuki is suspecting that there is
a motive to make him to spend the Sallah break in detention. I think
they have tracked the ex-NSA’s movement, they knew he was billed for Sokoto on
Friday (today) for Sallah.
“As I am talking to you, neither the
Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Musa Daura, nor any of the operatives
in his house has spoken with Dasuki. All they want is for him to surrender.
“But Dasuki remained holed up in his
house. He cannot just surrender to gun-wielding operatives who came to his
house at dusk.”
A security source said: “I think the
siege to Dasuki’s was part of the first step to probe the immediate past
Service chiefs.
“Dasuki was central to
counter-insurgency battle against Boko Haram and virtually providing leadership
for the Service chiefs”.
The Buhari administration is already
looking into how the counter-insurgency initiative was funded. Dasuki is
expected to assist substantially in the probe, The Nation learnt.
“You know Dasuki had planned to
resign immediately there was a change of government but President Muhammadu
Buhari refused to accept because he wanted to clear the Augean Stable in the
defence sector.
“Buhari’s position is that all the
former Service Chiefs must account for every budget for operations in the last
five years. He has been disturbed about reports of corrupt practices by some
Service Chiefs.”
The security source confirmed that
Dasuki might be investigated on the following issues:
- all sources of funding of the campaign against Boko Haram;
- purchase of arms from Russia and its cost;
- training of the members of the Special Force;
- why the seized $15m was hauled in cash to South Africa to the embarrassment of the nation;
- what informed the recruitment of South African mercenaries as fighters in Sambisa Forest, Gwoza and some parts of Adamawa and Yobe states; and
- why Nigeria rejected military assistance from the US and the UK against Boko Haram.
As at press time, the fate of the
former Service Chiefs was unknown, but a source said “they have been placed on
close monitoring”.
They are former Chief of Defence
Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, ex-Chief of Army Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah,
ex-Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman, and ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air
Marshal Adesola Amosu.
The security source added: “They are
all under close watch and their movement will be restricted to the country. In
any case, by military rules, they are already on the Reserve List. Technically,
they are still in service and can be recalled to answer questions on their
tenure.”
A pro-Democracy Non-governmental organization
-HUman Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the
reported invasion and gestapo operations at the homes of the immediate past
National Security Adviser.
HURIWA called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to follow due process and constitutional format in seeking to redress
any alleged abuse of authority by any top government officials in the immediate
past administration.
No comments:
Post a Comment