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Leaked Documents Reveal How Ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki Stole And Diverted Billions Of Naira For Political Campaigns

Law enforcement sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to SaharaReporters have said that these documents show alarming amounts of money, around N15.2 billion, flowing to accounts under the control of the ONSA, then on to highly suspect destinations before major electoral contests in Nigeria.

SaharaReporters has exclusively obtained financial documents and invoices detailing how the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, moved billions of naira to accounts used to fund political campaigns and rig elections in Nigeria. 

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Mr. Dasuki has been at the center of an intense criminal investigation for several months which has implicated numerous high-level political figures in Nigeria including former African Independent Television (AIT) chairman Raymond Dokpesi, former Board of Trustees chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anthony Anenih, powerful South West PDP leader Bode George; the former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and media mogul Nduka Obaigbena.

Law enforcement sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to  SaharaReporters have said that these documents show alarming amounts of money, around N15.2 billion, flowing to accounts under the control of the ONSA, then on to highly suspect destinations before major electoral contests in Nigeria.

An invoice dated February 3rd, 2014 showing a N500 million payment for the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) account for “security services” which substantiates a SaharaReporters report on November 18th, 2015. That report at the time said that that there were N1.3 billion in outstanding debts from PAF accounts left over from the Goodluck Jonathan presidential administration, that the new government needed to service. SaharaReporters has since learned that money authorized to be allocated for PAF service was unlawfully diverted and stolen.

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Included in these exclusive documents is massive N6 billion in payments from the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government to the DG of the State Security Services, the ONSA, and to the “MEA Research Library” on March 30th, 2015, two days after the PDP lost the presidential election. SaharaReporters has learned that the MEA Research Library, which received more than N2.68 billion, is a secret account under the control of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA).

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One invoice from the ONSA dated on July 21st, or three weeks before the gubernatorial election in Osun State, details N575 million in payments to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the DG of SSS, the MEA Research Library, and the Presidential Initiative for the North East for “security operation for Osun election.”

It will be recalled that a previous SaharaReporters investigation has revealed that the conspirators to unlawfully rig the Ekiti State election namely Musiliu Obanikoro, Jelili Adesiyan, Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, Ayo Fayose, and Iyiola Omisore also attempted to rig the Osun State election. According to a sworn statement by whistleblower Captain Sagir Koli, who recorded the Ekitigate tapes, these conspirators agreed to use the tactics from Ekiti State rigging in Osun State.

The July 21st date of the ONSA invoice also coincides Mr. Koli’s sworn testimony that the Brigadier General Adeyemi, posted in Osun State, was ordered for a compulsory three-week leave while Brigadier General Momoh was moved to Osun State to facilitate rigging.

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A second invoice from the ONSA connects Mr. Dasuki with Mr. Dokpesi and Mr. Bafarawa in the final weeks before the anticipated February presidential elections in 2015. Both financial transactions are N500 million each and are dated January 21st, 2015. DAAR Investment and Holding Company, belonging to Mr. Dokpesi, received the N500 million sum about one week before AIT documentaries disparaging President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and APC National Leader Bola Tinubu were produced. Due to public pushback and legal interventions, the portion of the documentary targeting Osinbajo was never aired. SaharaReporters revealed during the period leading to the presidential elections that AIT got paid N5million each time it aired a documentary on behalf of the PDP. Dalhatu Investment Ltd., belonging to former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and his son Attahiru Sagir, is at the center of the armsgate scandal involving Mr. Dasuki for the illegal diversion of money intended to purchase weapons to fight Boko Haram.

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The content of these financial documents and invoices, and the timing of the banking transactions, strengthens evidence of the network of corrupt public figures who used looted funds to bankroll political campaigns and rig elections. They demonstrate the financial ties between looted funds, security officials, military, shell companies, and powerful media figures cooperating with one another to fraudulently rig electoral contests throughout the 2014-2015 period.