taking urgent and appropriate actions to restore order, due process and probity to the processes. Buhari spoke at a meeting with the British Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. Michael Fallon at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, just as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court granted the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.); former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; ex-Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu and two others bail in the sum of N250 million each and a surety in like sum. Dasuki and the five accused, who are facing a 22-count criminal charge bordering on diversion, misappropriation and breach of trust in respect of N13.6 billion meant for the purchase of arms, brought against them by the federal government, were granted bail by Justice Peter Affen. Speaking at the Villa, Buhari told Fallon that the process of procurement of arms under immediate past administration was open to corruption and shady deals. His words: “They just put
The statement further disclosed that under the new tariff regime, electricity consumers will now only pay for what they consume from Presidential Villa, Abuja, just as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court granted the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.); former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; ex-Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu and two others bail in the sum of N250 million each and a surety in like sum. Dasuki and the five accused, who are facing a 22-count criminal charge bordering on diversion, misappropriation and breach of trust in respect of N13.6 billion meant for the purchase of arms, brought against them by the federal government, were granted bail by Justice Peter Affen. Speaking at the Villa, Buhari told Fallon that the process of procurement of arms under immediate past administration was open to corruption and shady deals. His words:
“They just put His words: “They just put foreign exchange in a briefcase and travelled to procure equipment for the military. That is why we have found ourselves in the crisis we are now facing.” The President said Nigeria was excited at the offer by the British Government to assist in defence procurement, intelligence gathering and training. Buhari restated his conviction that the international community must collaborate more and work with greater unity of purpose to overcome global terrorism. He added: “Terrorism has become very sophisticated now.
If developed nations can be attacked, and hundreds of lives lost, how much more developing countries? “In the West African subregion, Nigeria is the main battleground of the Boko Haram insurgency. We have made a lot of progress against the terrorists, but we will welcome more assistance from our friends and the international community.” In his remark, Mr. Fallon said he was in the country to see what more Britain could do to support Nigeria in battling terrorism and violent extremism. “Groups like Boko Haram don’t believe in democracy and freedom of choice, so it’s a common fight for us all.”
In an interview with State House correspondents after the meeting, the British Secretary of State for Defence, explained that he and the president discussed what could be done to help Nigeria to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency. He said: “Boko Haram and its way of life needed to be defeated. So, we have been discussing today what probably we can do to step up Nigeria in the area of full training on how to deal with improvised explosive devices …and what can be done to improve the intelligence you need to deal with terrorism.”
He noted that Britain which already had about 130 military personnel in Nigeria helping to train the Nigerian Army, would more Continued from page 1 than double the number to offer training and particularly to improve the army’s resilience to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) left behind by Boko Haram. On the rehabilitation programme for the areas affected by insurgents activities, he said: “We want to do more to help stabilize those areas once the terrorists have been driven out. That means sustaining them with not only reconciliation but economic development, providing security for this place for them to go back to their villages, with the knowledge that they need to be protected and the infrastructure there to be repaired.”
Also speaking to correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Dan Ali (retd) said the December deadline given to the military was only a time line as the campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency could last for years. Asked whether the deadline given by President Buhari would be extended, he responded: “Time line is for those in the military. We had a time line in December, but December is not the end of the operation. It is a campaign. Campaign lasts for years, not dates.”
Meanwhile, the bail granted to Dasuki and the other accused on Monday by Justice Peter Affen is different from the one granted last week Thursday to three accused persons including Dasuki by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf. Justice Affen’s ruling yesterday, was based on bail application in respect of the 22-count money laundering charges to the tune of N13 billion. The judge also rehashed the conditions for bail given by his colleague last week, directed the six accused to produce sureties, one must be a serving or retired Director in the Federal Civil Service.
“The sureties must provide property worth N250 million within Abuja, and an evidence of means. “The defendants are also expected to deposit their travel passports and their counsels must notify the court of any intention by the defendants to travel out of Abuja.” Justice Affen ordered that the six accused persons who were put on trial by the Federal government for allegedly squandering of the huge sum meant for purchase of security equipment, are to be remanded in Kuje Prison until they perfected their bail conditions. He adjourned the matter for trial till February 02 and 03, 2016.
“The sureties must provide property worth N250 million within Abuja, and an evidence of means. “The defendants are also expected to deposit their travel passports and their counsels must notify the court of any intention by the defendants to travel out of Abuja.” Justice Affen ordered that the six accused persons who were put on trial by the Federal government for allegedly squandering of the huge sum meant for purchase of security equipment, are to be remanded in Kuje Prison until they perfected their bail conditions. He adjourned the matter for trial till February 02 and 03, 2016.
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