UPDATES : $2bn Arms Scam: Jonathan To Seek Audience With President Buhari

The ex-president Goodluck Jonathan may have concluded plans to hold a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari over the revelations accompanying the ongoing arms deal probe, The Nation reports.

A source close to the former president is reported as saying that Jonathan will not join issue in public with Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser (NSA), over Dasuki’s reported allegation that the former president approved the disbursement of the funds involved.

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Former president Goodluck Jonathan may have concluded plans to seek an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari

Dasuki is presently standing trial at the court after being charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged

misapplication and fraudulent disbursement of over N31bn meant for the purchase of arms.

And in a fresh revelation on Tuesday, December 15, it was disclosed that some close associates of the former president were arranging a private meeting between the leaders to enable Jonathan to explain things to the president.

“Jonathan will prefer a private audience with the President rather than taking up issues with the suspects in public. Some of the expenditures have grave security implications as they involve some neighbouring countries.

“As a statesman, Jonathan cannot just open up at all. For example, there is a unit where the overhead of past Presidents and Heads of State was taken care of. Some of the funds disbursed by the office had to do with these funds. If Jonathan speaks, will he not rubbish these past leaders?

“Some Presidents from some countries sought financial assistance from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Do you expect the former leader to issue a statement on such a sensitive request?

“At a point, there was negotiation to end Boko Haram insurgency. This type of deal cannot be put in the public domain,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, stated.

President Buhari has also made clarifications over reports that he collected $300,000 from Dasuki, explaining that he received only two SUVs as compensation after an attack by Boko Haram terrorists.