EFCC Must Probe Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan - Northern Group

Today.ng reports that some northern groups have called for the

immediate probe of former president Goodluck Jonathan over revelations that he was involved in the shady $2 billion meant for arms procurement.

The groups believe the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies should pick up the former president after the arrest and questioning of some persons allegedly involved in the misappropriation of the funds meant for the purchase of arms to strengthen military might in the fight against insurgency.

Among those in EFCC custody are former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.), former Sokoto state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, among others.

The group under the aegis of coalition of northern politicians, academics, professionals and businessmen disclosed that Jonathan and the immediate past minister of finance, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala should give provide answers to questions being raised in association to the arms deal scandal.

Dr Junaid Mohammed, convener of the group, also questioned the allocation of public funds to the office of the NSA, which he described as only playing an advisory role and lacking in operational powers.

“It is a major international scandal, national disgrace and embarrassment. Given the fact that Jonathan was the one in charge, whether effectively or not is beside the point, if he is found to have been complicit in the bastardising of our national treasury, he should be called in to answer questions, whether the EFCC goes to him or he is physically called in to the agency’s office.

“They should go to him wherever he is, whether in this country or outside. He should be questioned. If the need arises for him to be questioned again and again and again, the EFCC should not hesitate to do so. I believe Nigerians are angry that so far, he has not answered any question.

“The last time he commented on it, he was in the United States, and he said the money was too much. If he has his own figures, he should give out the figures he has to the EFCC, the Department of Security Services and those investigating the case. If he doesn’t show contrary figures, he has no business disputing the ones available.

“The fact that the office was bastardised by this Dasuki fellow and other people to be awarding contracts and financing the campaign systems of the Peoples Democratic Party shows that there was something fundamentally amiss. And we now have to dig to the very bottom and we cannot get to the bottom without questioning Jonathan.

“Also, under our system and this is in the constitution, money which has not been appropriated cannot be spent. It is a fundamental principle of financial management in a democratic government. But the money Dasuki and others spent was not appropriated by the National Assembly,” he said.

Reports surfaced earlier that former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has gone into hiding in the creeks of Bayelsa state to evade arrest after being summoned by the EFCC.