The alleged diversion of $2.2 billion meant for arms purchase by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan continue to generate more revelations as former Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa denied receiving any money from the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
Controversy has led to arrest of Dasuki and some prominent Nigerians by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement in Abuja yesterday by one of his aides, a former Special Adviser on Youths and Students Matters during his term as Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu said Bafarawa has no deal with the former NSA nor collected any money from him for any purpose.
Besides, Dalhatu lamented what he called deliberate media campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the former governor saying it appears that the media was being used to play out a script that has been written long before now.
“The truth is that Governor Bafarawa went to the EFCC to honour an invitation made to him by the agency while he was abroad. He had informed them through a letter by his lawyers that he was abroad and would honour their invitation on return. Governor Bafarawa went to the office of EFCC with his lawyer and an aide,” he added.
However, Bafarawa had stated that he received N4.6 billion from Dasuki for “spiritual purposes.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also added its voice to the matter calling for stringent punishment for those found guilty.
NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told journalists yesterday in Abuja that capital punishment for offenders cannot be ruled out to stem the tide of corruption bedeviling the country.
Wabba noted that the mind-boggling revelation by the erstwhile Director of Finance to Dasuki, Shuaibu Salisu, should be commended and should be well protected as a whistle-blower.