The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is continuing its scrutiny of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), over arms purchased under his watch.
DAILY POST has now gathered that the said officials were arrested more than a week ago.
It was also learnt that a foreign trainer, who tutored about 750 troops in Belarus, is also being held.
Many of the troops are at the forefront in the war against Boko Haram.
When DAILY POST contacted EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren at 1:50pm, he said he has no information on the arrests.
“Which officials did you say” he quipped, to which our correspondent answered.
The spokesman replied thus: “I have no information on arrests of officials in NSA’s office. I have to get details before saying anything.”
He asked for a call-back “in two hours.”
But a source in the know told our correspondent Monday afternoon that apart from Dasuki whom the DSS are holding hostage in his Abuja home for more than one month after being granted bail by the court, some staff and contractors in the Office of the National Security Adviser have been with the EFCC for over a week without being charged to court.
“EFCC should not deny. In fact, some that were not in no way involved in procurements of arms are in custody as I speak. This is infringement of rights.”
“Even more intriguing is the fact that some former top public office holders from 2007 to 2012 who should be probed are not only working the street freely but are part of the current administration, lending credence to the widely held view that the whole thing is purely an exercise in vindictiveness in line with what some of those in the corridors of power today call ‘payback time.”
“Apart from the mindless breach of Dasuki’s right to life, is the thoughtless subjection of highly classified details of security operations to undue public scrutiny, thereby exposing Nigeria’s national security dealings just so to get at Dasuki and to rubbish his contributions.
“It should also be noted that some of the expenditures were expended on special operations resulting in killing of top Boko Haram kingpins and recovery of more than 22 local government councils from terrorists before the emergence of the current administration.
“Surprisingly the terrorists are becoming daring everyday now without the current government buying new arms.
“Is it not trite that there are certain classified transactions or expenditures under Special Service Office, ONSA, NIA, DSS that are not subject to scrutiny because of their sensitive nature?
The source said rather than deal with Boko Haram killing of innocent citizens and troops on daily basis, the administration is pursuing shadow.
“All armoured vehicles, trucks and ammunition being used today are those procured by the previous administration,” he continued.
“Some of the armaments were procured from the black markets when some developed nations deliberately refused to sell sophisticated arms to Nigeria.
“How much more deep could the hawks in this administration want to drag the image and security of this great country all in a bid to nail Dasuki at all cost?
“Even as discerning minds are bewildered at this inexplicable ridiculing and denigration of our national security, it is also important that Nigerians demand that rule of law be followed to the latter by the Federal government in handling the Dasuki’s case.”
