APC, PDP Faction, CACOL Demands Jonathan To Stay Away From Dasuki's Defence

Jonathan's testimony that Dasuki, who has been in EFCC net since mid-2015, did not commit the crime - alleged diversion of arms fund, totalling $2.1bn,
for which he is been grilled by the anti graft agency; has garnered many condemnation. GEJ admitted that while it was a statement of fact that there were some corruption cases during his administration, some of the cases were exaggerated.
He argued that it would not be right to say that $2.2bn was stolen with the equipment and arms bought by his administration. The ex-president, in a statement by an Abuja-based public relations outfit, the PR Nigeria, said he had kept quiet to allow the court to handle the ongoing prosecution of the former NSA so as not to be seen as a former President challenging a sitting administration.

Meanwhile the Presidency has urged Jonathan to allow the court to decide on whether Dasuki is guilty or not. Speaking recently in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, stated the courts should be allowed to decide the matter which he said was subjudice. In his words: “The matter is subjudice. Let the courts decide,”

The All Progressives Congress and the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff led faction of the PDP, also believe Jonathan should let the court decide the case of Dasuki and others believed to have partaken in the alleged arms deal fraud what is today knowwn as the #DasukiGate.

In a similar development, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank, urged Jonathan to assist Dasuki to make his case in court.

Frank said it was not enough for the ex-President to say his former NSA didn’t steal the $2.1bn, but it would be more appropriate to assist in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

In his words, Frank said; “First, I wonder why it took former President Jonathan such a long time to speak out. Why now? If Colonel Dasuki is as clean as he wants us to believe, it would be nice if he can assist his former NSA to prove his case in court.

“The courts deal with evidence; let them prove their case.”
Similarly, Mr. Debo Adeniran,The Executive Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), stated the remarks of Jonathan was a way of preparing for his own defence when he was eventually called for probe.

He said: “I am not surprised that the former President made such a statement because he has always demonstrated his ignorance of how much malfeasance took place under his watch.

“He was the chief accounting officer of that regime and believed that all fingers are pointing in his direction, because most of those that have confessed to sharing in the loot have mentioned one way or the other that he (Jonathan) gave approval for the money they expended, the latest of which is Obanikoro and Fani-Kayode.

“He knew that eventually, it will get to him, that was why he was saying that it was not possible for Dasuki to steal $2.1bn, even when he saw people moving more than $9m to South Africa under a non-conventional guise for buying arms and he saw the revelations that even some of his ministers went away with more than $20bn.

“He was just saying that to prepare the ground for his own defence, maybe, when eventually he is called to answer questions. Basically, it’s just a kind of drowning man clutching to the available straw.”

Again, the PDP faction chaired by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has also asked Jonathan to allow Dasuki to face his trial.

 Mr. Bernard Mikko, of the party faction on Tuesday said: “We don’t want to take issue with the former President on this matter, but we will want to say that the suspect and others like him, should be allowed to face their trial.

“Let the court determine if they are culpable or not. It is not our duty to defend or castigate anyone.

“It is also gratifying to know that none of these suspects has said he or she paid money to the PDP. So, we don’t have issues with that.”

Many of Jonathan's presidential aides are currently in the EFCC net facing different charges bordering on money laundering and the #DasukiGate seems to be the common denominator. While some were reportedtly collapsing while in custody, some other allegedly turned himself in voluntarily and has made some mind-blowing confessions, mentioning some high profile names too.