When will the EFCC arrest Goodluck Jonathan?

monjola sotubo

April 25, 2016 11:48 AM

This circle of arrests has one central figure in the middle; Goodluck Jonathan, yet the EFCC is not saying anything about his involvement or when, if at all, it will investigate him.

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan

The

The first person to be arrested was former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki who is alleged to have supervised the laundering of $2 billionfrom Nigeria’s coffers, most of which was spent on “mobilizing” people for Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Dasuki was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 1, 2015 and handed over to the EFCC the following day. He was re-arrested by the DSS on Tuesday, December 29, after being released on bail.

The former NSA, in his defence, said that Jonathan had approved the spending of the funds.

“There was no contract awarded or equipment bought without approval from the then President and Commander-In-Chief. I am not a thief or treasury looter as being portrayed,” he said via a statementon Wednesday, November 18, 2015.

The claim was however denied by Jonathan during a gathering co-hosted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC, on November 19.

“I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons. Where did the money come from? I did not award a contract of $2billion for procurement of weapons,” Jonathan said.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dr Tony Aziegbemi also admitted that Jonathan and Dasuki did business together during the 2015 elections.

“I can guess, this is about trust, that perhaps former President Goodluck Jonathan had implicit trust in Dasuki and felt that some of the money he needed to run his campaign could be channelled through the office of the NSA,” Aziegbemi said during a recent interview with Vanguard.

The EFCC also arrested PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh after he was accused of receiving N400 million out of the funds laundered by Dasuki.

However, Metuh, through a no-case submission filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, argued that the EFCC couldn’t validly prosecute him for corruption without involving Jonathan.

The PDP spokesperson said, through his lawyer, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), that some of the funds he was accused of laundering had been used for Jonathan’s campaign in 2015 hence the former president was a vital witness that ought to be called by the prosecution.

“Dr Jonathan, to whom the presentation was made for which the payment was made, is therefore a material and indispensable person in order for a prima facie case to be present,” Metuh’s lawyer argued.

“Where the prosecution failed to call such a vital witness, a strong presumption will arise that the evidence, if called, would be unfavourable to the prosecution,” he added.

A witness who testified during Metuh’s trial on Monday, April 11, 2016, also said that Jonathan gave the permission for the funds to be paid into the PDP spokesman’s account.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has also arrested Jonathan’s campaign director, Nenadi Usman and his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Warimopei Dudafa in connection with the fraud.

Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Roberthas been arrested in connection with a $40 million contract scam and his campaign spokesperson, former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode is reportedly under investigation for money laundering.

Dear EFCC, when will you invite Jonathan for questioning?

monjola sotubo