…EFCC Records Show No Direct Link To Former President
Jonathan Excluded From Questioning In Arms Fund Probe
Daud Olatunji
Former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has said ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did not authorise the use of the controversial $2.1bn arms procurement funds for electioneering, explaining why the former president was never invited for questioning during investigations into the scandal.
Magu disclosed that EFCC records and official documents reviewed by investigators showed that the funds were “not officially approved for campaign purposes,” adding that there was no direct documentary link implicating Jonathan in the approval of the money for political use.
The revelation is contained in a new book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr Charles Omole and recently launched at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Omole, the handling of the arms funds triggered deep tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party, as several senior party figures were questioned over allegations of diversion of public resources meant for arms procurement.
The author noted that power struggles within the Jonathan administration fuelled perceptions that the then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, wielded enormous influence, with some observers describing him as a “co-president.”
“Tensions reportedly simmered between NSA Dasuki and Defence Minister Aliyu Gusau as procurement authority and other vital functions gravitated to the NSA, leading some to see Dasuki as a ‘co-president’ alongside Jonathan,” Omole wrote.
The book further claimed that the EFCC probe unsettled top PDP leaders. Former PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, was said to have gone into hiding after being sought for questioning, while the party’s former spokesman, Olisa Metuh, allegedly declined to refund N400m traced to a company linked to him.
“By January, former PDP national chairman Adamu Mu’azu was wanted for questioning but was in hiding. Former PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh… said he would rather starve than refund it; he was arrested,” the author stated.
Other figures mentioned include a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who was reportedly arrested, jumped bail and was later rearrested.
Six PDP zonal chairmen, according to the book, also told investigators they were unaware of the source of campaign funds they received.
Omole added that Magu later clarified that Jonathan was excluded from questioning because investigation documents did not establish that he approved the funds for campaign use.
The former EFCC boss was also quoted as lamenting how prolonged court cases are sustained by well-funded legal defences, alleging that some politicians divert large sums for litigation, hire senior advocates and exploit loopholes in investigations to stall trials.
The book revealed that many PDP leaders accused the EFCC of witch-hunting as case files continued to mount.
It also disclosed that former President Muhammadu Buhari directed the EFCC to investigate 17 serving and retired military officers following recommendations by the Military Procurement Audit Committee.
Several Nigerian Air Force officers were reportedly questioned, including the late Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who was later charged with money laundering and corruption over allegations that he used N1.4bn in Air Force funds to acquire a mansion in Abuja.
The audit committee’s second report, according to the book, also flagged 21 companies for EFCC investigation over questionable contracts linked to the Air Force and the Office of the National Security Adviser, citing unclear pricing, fund transfers and payments for unidentified purposes
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