Embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, a retired Colonel, has faulted the interim report of the arms deal probe panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, which indicted him for fraudulent arms deal worth over N300 billion.
Dasuki said he was shocked that the panel indicted him without giving the opportunity to defend himself.
“I have never been invited formally or informally to appear before the panel. I am therefore not only surprised but embarrassed by seeming indictment by the panel purportedly operating from Office of the National Security Adviser that never contacted me,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The federal government in August set up the panel to investigate how money meant for procurement of weapons for the military from 2007 to date was spent, and after receiving an interim report from the panel on Tuesday, President Buhari ordered the arrest of those indicted, which could include former top military officers.
A statement by presidential spokesman detailed alleged fraudulent transactions approved by the former NSA, including award of bogus contracts and illegal payments to unknown companies for unstated purposes.
The government alleged that “between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2, 219,188,609.50, $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00.”
Adesina said that the contracts meant for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never executed as the Air Force never received the equipment.
Dasuki, however, seems unimpressed by how the report came about, saying that he did his best for the country in the fight against terrorists.
The former NSA did not defend himself against specific allegations levelled against him in the interim report but highlighted the successes recorded against Boko Haram insurgents under the last administration in which he served.
“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 on how we tackled terrorism and defeated Boko Haram terrorists through our gallant troops and partners in the twilight of the previous administration, that is the reason I have insisted on open and public trial of my stewardship rather than secret trial in the court as being canvassed by my prosecutors,” the ex-security chief explained.
He, however, appeared to agree that there were issues with how military weapons were purchased, arguing that the problems pre-dated his tenure.
“I even thought the committee was to investigate procurement from 2007 to 2015. Yet only my name is always being mentioned even when some of the issues were before I came into the government,” he noted.