SaharaReporters has learned that agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested some top-ranking officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser who worked under Sambo Dasuki, the office’s immediate former chief.
A highly placed security source confirmed the arrests to a correspondent of SaharaReporters. He added that the officials’ arrest was connected to the ongoing investigation of a $2 billion weapons contract scandal involving Mr. Dasuki, the erstwhile National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The embattled former NSA, Sambo Dasuki, has been under intense pressure from law enforcement authorities over his alleged role in orchestrating the stealing of $2 billion meant for a massive arms contract. The allegedly stolen funds were intended to purchase weapons to fight Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.
Agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) raided Mr. Dasuki’s home as part of the widening investigation into the alleged heist. Mr. Dasuki, who denied stealing from Nigeria’s funds for the purchase of arms, has reportedly made a statement to investigators.
Subordinates of Mr. Dasuki who were arrested include Shuaibu Salisu, who was Mr. Dasuki's Director of Finance as well as a staff member of the National intelligence Agency (NIA), Aminu Baba Kusa, fondly called “ABK,” a former General Executive Director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and Mr. Kusa’s son, Mohammed Baba-Kusa.
Other former top officials of the NSA who are being held in connection with the arms contract scandal are Abba M.T. Usman, Evegny Kundaev, Attahiru Maccido, Salisa Umar Garu, Oyinmiebl Bribena, Olukoya Olusegun Godwin, and Olukayode Raimi. They are being investigated on charges ranging from criminal conspiracy, theft, forgery, the diversion of public funds, to money laundering.
Our security source disclosed that the arrested officials were being detained in separate cells, adding that President Buhari was keenly following the evolving investigation.