The Presidency has faulted the claim by the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), that he was not invited by the presidential committee, probing the purchase and supply of arms during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A source in the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday, told newsmen that the Federal Government was in possession of evidence to show that Dasuki was duly invited to clear his name.
He said the Department of State Services duly invited the ex-NSA, who however refused to honour the invitation.
The source explained that a summons served on Dasuki was duly acknowledged by his lawyer.
The former NSA had, in a statement on Wednesday, said he was never invited by the John Odeh-led panel to verify the findings of the committee before he was indicted.
Dasuki, who was indicted along with others, was alleged to have awarded N333bn “fictitious and phantom” arms contracts.
But he described the panel’s submission as baseless and lacking in diligence.
But the source in the Presidency faulted Dasuki’s claims.
He added, “Don’t forget that the DSS is on that committee probing those arms deals.
“He was invited by the DSS and he refused to honour the invitation despite that his lawyer acknowledged the document.
“Instead for Dasuki to honour the invitation, he remained indoors and was whipping up sentiment.
“If he is taken to any court without his statement, the case will automatically be thrown out.”
The top government official added that all steps being taken by Dasuki to subvert the system and escape justice were known to security agencies and the government.
He said at the appropriate time, Nigerians would know more about the allegations against the ex-NSA.
According to the report, some of the service chiefs would be charged to court, while others would serve as prosecution witnesses during the trial of Dasuki and others.
A source in the DSS on Thursday said, “Not all ex-service chiefs who will be invited, will be charged to court. Some will be witnesses. The fact that we are inviting them does not mean that they have been indicted.”
When contacted to respond to Dasuki’s claim, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the committee’s work was ongoing, adding that what was submitted to the government was the preliminary report.
“We won’t reply Dasuki. Investigation is still ongoing and it will not be appropriate for us to be replying him. What the panel submitted is just the preliminary report,” he said.
Meanwhile, journalists have obtained a copy of a letter by the DSS, dated November 4, 2015, inviting Dasuki to “meet and have audience with the Director-General, State Services on Thursday, November 5, 2015, by 1100 hours at the National Headquarters of the State Security Service, Aso Avenue, Maitama,, Abuja”.
But Dasuki, through his counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had described the invitation by the DSS as violating an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is being prosecuted for money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, granting the ex-NSA permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Incidentally, the order of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja was granted on November 4, the same date the letter of the DSS’ letter of invitation carries.
The DSS letter, with reference number LSD.860/T, and signed on behalf of the DG of DSS by A.B Abdullahi, also read, “The invitation becomes necessary to enable you to make some clarifications on matters under investigation by the Service”.
The DSS, through another letter, dated November 7, 2015, invited Daudu to appear with his client (Dasuki) at the DSS headquarters in Abuja by 12noon on November 9, “to have an audience with the Director-General State Services”.
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