By Ishaya Ibrahim
Acting News Editor
Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, currently vacationing in the United States, got news on November 19 that armed men had taken over his residence on Usuma Street in the Maitama area of Abuja.
He thought about calling the police to dislodge the ‘thieves’ only to be told that it was the police laying siege to his home at the behest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC has not given any reason for the grandstanding. It is also remote that it had anything to do with the court case pressed against him by the EFCC when he left office in 2007.
Likely reason for clampdown
The nearest reason for the clampdown was perhaps his connection to former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who is in court over charges of unlawful possession of firearms and other sundry allegations.
Bafarawa had accompanied Dasuki in many of his court outings. And given the ferocity of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) in handling the case, anyone linked to him could be treated as an accomplice.
On November 3, the DSS arrested former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna, a few hours after standing surety for Dasuki.
Haruna was quizzed for allegedly engaging in a “multi-billion naira investment in Ghana” only after he stood surety for Dasuki.
Bafarawa in the dark
Bafarawa told TheNiche in a telephone interview on Friday, November 20 that he does not know why the EFCC stormed his home in a manner that portrayed them like armed robbers.
By 6am on Thursday, November 19, EFCC personnel, supported by heavily armed mobile police, lined up along the street where Bafarawa’s house is located and surrounded it.
He said he would return to the country this week to answer whatever query they may have.
He also wondered why the DSS would not allow Dasuki, who was granted bail by the High Court, to travel to attend to his health in whatever country and hospital of his choice.
He said it is not true that Dasuki would jump bail because doing so would not be in his interest.
“Why will he jump bail?” Bafarawa wondered, arguing that it is not a possibility for such a high profile figure because the government could easily have him extradited from any part of the world.
In Buhari’s bad books
Dasuki has been in the eye of the storm since Muhammadu Buhari became president on May 29.
Upon assumption of office, one of the first major appointments he made was the DSS Director General, Lawal Daura.
Two weeks into the appointment, Daura’s first major assignment was to lay siege at the residence of Dasuki on a Sallah day.
Sources close to Dasuki said after he was granted bail by the court, he got intelligence report through his contacts in the service that operatives have been stationed at the various airports in Nigeria for his arrest if he attempted to leave the country.
On November 17, Buhari hurriedly received the interim report of the investigative committee on arms procurement, which indicted Dasuki.
A statement issued by Buhari’s Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, said the committee, which was inaugurated on August 31, was yet to complete its work, but its interim report unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions allegedly perpetuated by Dasuki.
On that strength, Buhari ordered his arrest. And since then, operatives of the service have been laying siege at his residence.
Aso Rock defends arrests
“As part of the findings,” Adesina said, “the committee has analysed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies.
“The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and 54,000.00 euros; 53 were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.’’
“Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015 … Dasuki awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50; $1,671,742,613.58 and 9,905,477.00 euros.
“The contracts, which were said to be for the purchase of four Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.
“Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, two companies were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00; $1,661,670,469.71 and 9,905,477.00 euros alone.
“This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.
“Additionally, it was discovered that [Dasuki] directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and 9,905,473.55 euros to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.”
However, Dasuki rejected the committee’s finding, saying the members did not even invite him.
He accused the Presidency of acting out a script and reiterated his readiness for an open trial where he would spill the beans.
Many lawyers wonder why Buhari would appropriate the power of a judge in ordering the arrest of Dasuki.
But federal Attorney General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, justified the siege laid to his residence by the DSS, explaining that he is being held on account of other allegations.
Malami was silent on EFCC’s presence at Bafarawa’s residence.
Group warns against dictatorship
A pro-democracy and human rights group, Coalition Against Injustice (CAI), faulted the invasion of the residence of Bafarawa by the DSS.
It also condemned the arrest order on Dasuki, describing the actions as “the return of dark days in Nigeria.”
A statement jointly signed by CAI National Coordinator, Isa Tijani; and National Secretary, Yerima Shetima, described the developments as “crass exhibition of dictatorial tendencies and an attempt to return Nigeria to the dark days of the era of military dictatorship exemplified by the statement emanating from the Presidency directing the arrest of Dasuki and others by [Buhari].”
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujare, declined comment on the Bafarawa saga when he was contacted.
EFCC can’t intimidate me, says Bafarawa
On Friday, November 20, Bafarawa said he would not be intimidated by the EFCC.
A statement issued by his spokesman, Yusuf Dingyadi, described the siege as “political intimidation and persecution” because of his political association.
He said it is ironical that those with responsibility to protect citizens have become a tool of destruction and abuse of the rule of law.
Bafarawa insisted that Nigerian security ought to ensure the security and liberty of citizes, not to intimidate or harass them.
He attributed the siege on his residence to his association with Dasuki, but pledged not to abandon him because their party is no longer in power.
Bafarawa, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he also suffered a similar trial when he supported Buhari in 2007, recalling that he was once bundled out of a meeting in Abuja and taken to a prison in Sokoto.
He said for over eight years of standing trial at Sokoto High Court over alleged corrupt practices, the EFCC could not establish a case against him.
Bafarawa promised to appear before the EFCC at anytime it summons him.