Dasuki,
NSA in the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, is
standing trial for embezzlement of over $15 billion fund meant for
equipment and other logistics to fight Boko Haram, the insurgent group
troubling the Northeastern part of the country.
The ECOWAS Court on Tuesday ordered Dasuki’s release. He went to the
court after a Federal High Court’s order that he should be released was
ignored.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s biographer, JohnPaden, hinted that Dasuki’s release from detention may not happen soon.
In Chapter 15 of the book, “Muhammadu Buhari – The challenges of
Leadership in Nigeria” which focuses on ‘Military Procurement
Accountability’, Paden noted that Buhari believed in confronting to the
end any act of corruption that will undermine the integrity of the
military.
He also disclosed that such corruption in military procurement that
puts the lives of the foot soldiers at risk is capable of endangering
the Nigeria Project itself.
Paden writes: “For Buhari who has said openly that he wants to be
remembered for fighting corruption, it will be an unmitigated disaster
for his legacy if such a gargantuan fleecing went on in his primary
constituency, the military, and he failed to unearth it and punish the
culprits.
“Buhari knows that Task Force and Division Commanders knew of and
approved these arms purchases; Service Chiefs knew too; Ministers of
Defence and Finance knew; Chief of Staff knew; civil servants in the
Ministries of Defence and Finance knew, Chief of Staff to the President
knew; the Vice President knew; and the President knew. It is why Buhari
will keep his foot on Dasuki’s throat until he fesses up.
“Who really was Sambo Dasuki fronting for in Jonathan’s cabinet? That
is the main question to which Buhari is also seeking answers.”
Paden continued: “As noted throughout this study, Buhari has a strong
belief in right and wrong. He also has an abiding respect for the
Nigerian military as an institution that can help hold Nigeria together.
“From Buhari’s perspective, if corruption in military procurement
undermines the integrity of the military, that corruption must be
confronted.
“And if such procurement allegations weaken the military response to
Boko Haram and put ordinary foot soldiers at risk, that corruption poses
a double threat, endangering even the Nigeria Project itself.”
Paden however ruled out personal or political affiliation as a reason for Dasuki’s continuous incarceration.
He said: “It is beyond the scope of this study to assess all the back
stories of the relationship between Buhari and Dasuki. Suffice it to
say that the so-called grudge between the two has never really existed.
“Dasuki is twelve years younger than Buhari, even though Dasuki did
participate in the 1985 countercoup. The family of Ibrahim Dasuki and
the Buhari extended family have been linked by marriage for more than
four decades.
“In addition, in his inaugural address, Buhari had professed that
although ‘the past is prologue’, he had no time to pursue alleged
‘enemies.”
“Other personal relationships in play included Buhari’s relationship
with Jonathan’s Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau and Buhari’s
relationship with General Babangida, who has played such a ubiquitous
role in Fourth Republic politics.
“Yet the real story probably has little to do with personal or political relationships.”