Atawodi, Bafarawa, Dasuki and Dokpesi

 

The $2.1 billion arms purchase scandal has generated much heat after many who were alleged to be involved in the deal were arrested by security agents. The new wave of fear has blown to the Peoples Democratic Party as its prominent leaders are said to be in fear and apprehension as most stand to be implicated in the controversy. As the Federal Government digs deeper into the scandal, many scam deals are being uncovered daily.

 

A senior member of the PDP has revealed that party members are apprehensive and in fear of being implicated. He said: “My brother, the situation is messy. A lot of our members benefited in one way or the other from the fund meant for arms procurement. I’m afraid that the days ahead will be tough for some senior members of the PDP", New Telegraph reports.

 

It would be recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS) had, on Tuesday, arrested former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in connection with arms scandal. The operatives of the EFCC also arrested Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi (rtd), former chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety who was implicated in the scandal. He was accused of defrauding the government to the tune of over N600 million through dubious contract to procure military boats.

 

The source said he awarded the contract to one Alhaji Rabiu’s Hypertech Nigeria Limited. The contractor was said to have been fully paid, but the boats were never supplied. The contract award process, according to the source, violated the Procurement Act. AVM Atawodi, who had been under surveillance since 2013, was quizzed for several hours on Wednesday, after he responded to the invitation extended to him.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on Tuesday arrested the founder of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Raymond Dokpesi, and former Sokoto state Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, in connection with the ongoing investigation into arms procurement by the office of the National Security Adviser during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Also, former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George was implicated in the arms deal scandal but was not arrested. He has since denied involvement.

 

In a statement issued by Bode-George's political adviser, Prince Uthman Shodipe- Dosunmu, George said: “For the record, Chief Bode George did not collect N100 million from Dasuki or anybody else whatsoever. He has never even set eyes on the former NSA throughout his tenure in office, talk less of collecting money from him. Dasuki, of course, is very much alive to corroborate this position.”

 

Dokpesi, who was accused of collecting N2.1 billion and has admitted receiving the money from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but said it was meant for “publicity and media political campaigns based on contractual obligations/ agreement.” 

 

The PDP had earlier condemned Dokpesi’s arrest, and said it has been made aware that “more notable PDP leaders have similarly been listed for arrest over unproven allegations” as a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to cow and silence opposition in the country.

 

Bafarawa has debunked claims he received money from the embattled former security chief. A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by one of his aides, a former Special Adviser on Youths and Students Matters, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu, maintained that he has neither had any deal with the former NSA nor collected money from him for any purpose.

 

“The former governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa did not receive any money from Col. Sambo Dasuki for any arms deal or for any purpose,” Akibu said in the statement.

 

Many Nigerians are still waiting how this scandal will end as some have insinuated that the arrests are politically motivated. Some believe the opposition is using state agencies to settle cheap political scores by harassing and intimidating perceived rivals. As the fear for arrests and implication intensifies, many from the opposition who have been made the main target of these attacks will continue will have sleepless nights.

 

It would be recalled that the controversy started with the arrest of Dasuki who was charged to court on a four-count charge bothering on illegal possession of firearms and money laundering. Dasuki is standing trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. He was however re-arrested for the illegal disbursement of $2.1billion arms deal contract in which many other top military and PDP party members were implicated.