* $40,000 cash, 3 guns, travel documents recovered in DSS search
Contrary to insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the arrest of former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki because he was the Army officer who led soldiers to arrest him (Buhari) on the day he was overthrown as military Head of State in August 1985, facts emerging from the security circle indicate that the retired Army Colonel is wanted in connection with multi-billion dollar funds domiciled in his office as NSA.
Operation against Dasuki was two-pronged as a team of DSS operatives were also deployed in his family house in Sokoto. Between Thursday evening and 6pm yesterday (Friday), Department of State Security Service (DSS) operatives had been searching for Dasuki in his Abuja and Sokoto homes. Though, he was believed to be in his Abuja home. He eventually allowed the DSS detectives to enter his house to execute a search warrant. At the end of the search, it was learnt that items recovered from the house included $40,000, three automatic rifles and his travel documents. The operatives thereafter vacated the house.
It was however gathered that all funds budgeted for the war against Boko Haram terror and other security issues were all domiciled in the office of Dasuki as NSA. There are allegations that some of the huge funds were diverted for some extraneous purposes rather than the prosecution of the war against terror.
READ ALSO: Jonathan's NSA Houses in Abuja and Sokoto Under DSS Siege
It was also learnt that defence contracts, including purchase of arms and ammunition that used to be under the Ministry of Defence, were taken over by Dasuki. He dominated the environment, so much so that the Ministry of Defence was no longer in the know about these transactions as they were fully taken over by the office of the NSA.
With huge funds under his control, Service Chiefs and other security chiefs also began reporting to Dasuki, it is alleged.
It was further gathered that the disbursement of over $3 billion USD already expended in the fight against Boko Haram, was presided over by Dasuki. At a point in time, the funds were also allegedly used to finance the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) then especially during the electioneering campaign. Inside sources also say that the immediate past Service Chiefs ought to be quizzed because they also were parties to the disbursement of the terror funds.
It was further gathered that under Dasuki, Ministry of Defence became toothless and a mere featherweight, a development that had never happened before in the nation’s history.
At a point, former Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau became disgruntled and wanted to go because Dasuki took over some of his duties. The former Minister felt he was just warming seat. Another reliable security source added that the invasion of Dasuki’s residence by DSS operatives has nothing to do with whether he led a team of soldiers to arrest Buhari on Sallah Day some years ago.
“Some people have been trying to portray Buhari as being unforgiving, vengeful, and that he never forgets. This is not true and has no connection with the effort to arrest the former ex-NSA. DSS invasion of Dasuki’s house has nothing to do with Buhari. Simply put, his travails with the DSS has to do with billions of terror funds he disbursed as NSA”, the source stressed.
However, after about 24 hours of laying siege to his residence, operatives of the Department of State Services on Friday withdrew from Dasuki’s house in Abuja, adding that the security operatives seized some vital documents including Dasuki’s international passport.
Col. Dasuki, who was appointed as NSA by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012, was relieved of his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that South Africa had released the $15m arms deal money seized by the authorities in 2014.
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