Nigerian major newspapers today, December 15, focused on the ongoing arms probe deal involving the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and the proposed new pump price for petrol by the federal government.
The Guardian reports that as the noose tightens around the suspects in the arms scandal, Dasuki was yesterday, December 14, arraigned at the Abuja High Court alongside a former Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Aminu Baba – Kusa and Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Salisu Shuaibu.
They are facing charges of criminal breach of trust and unlawful diversion of N32 billion. The founder of DAAR Communication Plc, Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi , who is also involved in the scandal was yesterday remanded in prison custody by the Federal High Court, Abuja Division pending the fulfillment of bail conditions slammed on him.
The Guardian front page today
According to The Nation, Dasuki and Salisu were accused of distributing funds held in the account of the NSA in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
to politicians, media practitioners and businessmen purportedly for political campaigns and organising of prayer sessions.
The duo were, in counts 5, 6, 7 and 8 accused of paying N2.2billion to Baba-Kusa through the bank accounts of Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited in Zenith Bank Plc.
Dasuki, Salisu and former Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs to the President, Warimpamowei Dudafa (now at large) were, in count 1, said to have received N10billion, which they converted to $47m and 5.6m Euro, and claimed to have distributed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election delegates around November 27, 2014.
The Nation front page today
Meanwhile, former Minister of State, Finance, Bashir Yuguda ,former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Salisu, Sagir Attahiru and a company the EFCC insisted was used to divert huge sums of money from the office of the NSA prior to the 2015 general elections, Dahaltu Investment Limited will be arraigned today even as Chairman Emeritus of Daar Communications was admitted to bail yesterday.
According to the source close to the former NSA, it had become necessary for Dasuki to expose the first in the series of the top beneficiaries, which include former heads of state and presidents, who were bought bullet-proof Sports Utility Vehicles by the ONSA with funds approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Although Dasuki is keeping the names of the beneficiaries of the car gifts to himself, the source told Vanguard that he was ready to spill the beans at the appropriate time, saying that the list will shock Nigerians.
Vanguard front page today
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said the country will need to revert to the old pump price of N97 per litre of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, next year.
According to The Punch, Kachikwu said the nation’s economy could not adequately support the current price of N87 per litre.
He, however, added that the Federal Government might exit the subsidy regime if the current strategy invariably failed.
The Punch front page today
In another development, Daily Sun reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, yesterday revealed how he escaped an attempt on his life by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites. He added that he escaped the attempted assassination by an act of God.
Members of the sect, allegedly attacked Buratai’s convoy last Saturday, December in Zaria, Kaduna state. Briefing newsmen at the end of a closed-door session with Senate Committee on Defence, alongside the Minister of Defence and service chiefs, Buratai said the issue was very clear.
“It was aired on national televisions. Members of the group were violent on that day. You want to know how I escaped. It was by the will of God that I was able to escape from the place. I urge every- body to be law-abiding and nobody should take the law into his hands.”
Daily Sun front page today
No comments:
Post a Comment