N2.2 Billion Was Spent For Prayers Against Boko Haram —- Dasukigate

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigating officer, Adariko Michael, on Tuesday, alleged that N2.2 billion was spent on prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to win the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

Mr Michael was giving evidence as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (ONSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, in the alleged two billion dollars arms deal fraud.

Others charged with Mr Dasuki, a retired colonel, are a former General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The EFCC charged them with 32 counts bordering on misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money before Husseini Baba-Yusuf.

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Mr Micheal said N750 million was allegedly transferred from the ONSA special account to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s account with First Bank.

He added that N650 million was also transferred to Acacia Holding Limited’s account with EcoBank, while another N600 million and N200 million were transferred to the company’s account with UBA.

 

 

 

When asked how the money was disbursed, Aminu Babakusa stated that the money was used to hire clerics to pray for the nation following the Boko Haram crisis.

 

Adariko Michael, an investigative officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, has alleged that a total of N2.2 billion was spent on prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to defeat Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

 

He was giving evidence as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (ONSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, in the alleged two billion dollars arms deal fraud.

 

Others charged with Mr Dasuki, a retired colonel, are a former General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

 

They were charged with 32 counts bordering on misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money before Husseini Baba-Yusuf.

 

“Between September 27, 2013, and April 16, 2015, N50 million was credited to Reliance Referral Hospital’s account.Based on responses from the banks involved, as investigating officer, we found out that money was transferred to several individuals and companies.

 

“When we went through the account statement, we asked the second defendant (Aminu Babakusa) the reason for this.He informed us that the money was used to hire clerics to pray for the nation as regards Boko Haram crisis,” he said.