* Insists on open, public trial of his stewardship, not secret trial
Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has said he was surprised and even embarrassed by reports that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his arrest for siphoning up to $2.9 billion earmarked for arms purchases.
According to Dasuki, the 13-man panel set up in August by Buhari with AVM J.O.N. Ode (rtd) as its president never invited him formally or informally to appear before it, wondering how the panel came up with an interim report which indicted him without hearing from him.
The Ode panel was tasked to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date.
Responding to the order by Buhari to arrest him without fair hearing, the ex-NSA told PRNigeria: “I have never been invited formally or informally to appear before the panel. I am therefore not only surprised but embarrassed by the seeming indictment by the panel purportedly operating from the Office of the National Security Adviser that never contacted me.
“For the record, I am proud to serve my nation with the best of intention and ensuring the recovery of more than 22 local government councils from Boko Haram terrorists.
“Because of the pride in how we tackled terrorism and defeated Boko Haram terrorists through our gallant troops and partners in the twilight of the previous administration, that is the reason I have insisted on open and public trial of my stewardship rather than secret trial in court as being canvassed by my prosecutors.
“I wish Nigerians will go back and reflect on what we did with even little or no support from some countries. We performed miracles before the emergence of this administration. Even though the committee was to investigate procurement from 2007 to 2015, yet only my name is always being mentioned even when some of the issues were before I came into the government.”
-Vanguard