Why Ex-President testifying for Dasuki should be very interesting

Dasuki is in custody of law enforcement for misappropriating a certain $2.2B meant for procuring arms for the military.

Jonathan has gone on the record to say Dasuki couldn’t have stolen that much money.

“You cannot say the National Security Adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible,” Jonathan said before the Oxford Union in the U.K.

“They said the National Security Adviser stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion. We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion, so where did we get the money to buy all those things?”

For standing up for his former employee in this manner, Dasuki’s legal team has found in Jonathan a willing ally. They've tapped him up.

According to a report in The Nation, Jonathan has practically agreed to testifying that Dasuki never stole Nigeria’s money, according to a source in the Ex-NSA's camp.

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“So far, we have secured the consent of Jonathan to appear in court for Dasuki. This will make the trial worth it.”

Ahmed Raji (SAN) who is one of Dasuki’s lawyers, was also quoted as saying Jonathan will be a key witness for Dasuki.

“It will be desirable for Jonathan to testify for the ex-NSA. It will throw greater light into grey areas. And it will serve the interest of Justice.

“It will be fantastic for him to go to court to testify. Dasuki is an agent of a disclosed and known principal.”

Another member of the legal team was quoted as saying: “With what Jonathan said in London, the only logical thing for him to do is to see it through.

“We want Jonathan to follow-through. If he backs out, it will be bad.”

Should Jonathan accept to do this, he will be putting himself forward as an accessory to alleged crime perpetrated on his watch.

It will also mean that Jonathan knows more than he is letting on, with respect to the disappearance of huge State funds on his watch.

That won’t be anything new.

In December, Dasuki had said he disbursed some of the monies after receiving orders to do so from then Commander-In-Chief, Goodluck Jonathan.

Said Dasuki: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.

“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.

“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to for distribution on the instruction of the President”.

Dasuki is standing trial for illegal possession of firearms, money laundering and a host of other crimes against the State.

It will be fascinating to watch Jonathan take the witness box to say Dasuki is blameless in all or some of the charges, because that may invariably mean opening up himself for arrest and interrogation.

And if Dasuki was right about simply obeying orders from Jonathan, then this case is only just beginning.

It also means there are several more names involved here; and several more leads as well for investigators.

Because for all we know, Dasuki made sure the money went round.

This should really be one to watch in the coming days.