The last may not have been heard of the arms procurement deal probe by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, as a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has said that he acted in the “national interest” in his award of contracts.
A 13-man Presidential Panel had been set up a few months ago, to probe over $2 billion contracts for the purchase of arms, to fight the Boko Haram insurgency plaguing the North East.
While the panel continued its sittings secretly, Dasuki and the Department of State Services (DSS), were locked in a standoff, which culminated in the former being held under house arrest.
Also, the DSS did not allow the former NSA to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to enjoy the benefit of an order by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja permitting him to travel abroad for medical treatment, as he was stopped from doing so at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on November 4.
The matter, however, got to a head on Tuesday night, when the President ordered the arrest of Dasuki, via a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.
Dasuki, who insisted that he acted in the “national interest”, claimed that he was not invited, thereby accusing the panel of not affording him the opportunity of fair hearing.
He made allusions to alleged hastiness on the part of the panel, which he claimed, may have denied him the opportunity to avail the panel documents covering the subject matter.
