A former Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri has said that President Muhammadu Buhari and many other VIPs benefited from the slush funds for which former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is now being tried.
The US-based pastor made this known in an interview with Thisday.
Omokri said the funds were used to buy armoured vehicles for many VIPs including Buhari, insisting that Dasuki could not have stolen the money as is being claimed.
He also queried why Dasuki is being tried secretly and challenged the Federal Government to try the former NSA in public if it has nothing to hide.
He said, “If they are talking of money paid to the National Security Adviser, in all fairness, money was paid to Colonel Dasuki, but the man did not steal it as is being alleged.
“Dasuki said he is ready to meet them in court, but they said they want a secret trial. Dasuki said, ‘you claimed I stole money and never bought weapons so why do you want a secret trial?’
“Between the Buhari government that wants a secret trial and Dasuki who wants a public trial, who has something to hide?
“Do not forget that it was Dasuki’s job to keep the nation safe and that included protecting VIPs whose death may lead to tension or even war in the country.
“On July 23, 2014, President Buhari escaped an attack by Boko Haram in Kaduna which killed 82 people when Boko Haram escalated their insurgency.
“Some of the money they are alleging that Dasuki stole was used to protect Buhari and other high-profile individuals particularly those in the North. Buhari got armoured vehicles for his protection, because of the large heart of the Jonathan administration, because Jonathan did not want his life to be imperiled.
“Confront the Presidency. Ask them how much did Dasuki spend protecting candidate Buhari and where did that money come from?
“Buhari was not entitled to an armoured car. By his entitlements he and other former leaders were entitled to two regular cars, but Dasuki went out of his way to import a specialized armoured vehicle that could resist bombs and bullets to protect Buhari. Go on the Internet and find out how much that cost.
“Section 3 (1) of the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (And other Ancillary Matters) Decree of 1999 provides that a former head of state is entitled to “Three vehicles to be bought by the Federal Government and liable to be replaced every four years.”
“The usual practice was for former heads of state to be given a good car like a Peugeot from PAN or some similar car.
“The Jonathan administration was under no obligation to provide President Buhari with an armoured SUV, but because you had decent people in authority, they valued Buhari’s life and went beyond what the law prescribes.
“Dasuki is a man that is learned. He is a meticulous record keeper. Let them try him in public and the man himself will expose the truth and Nigerians shall know the truth and it shall set them free from this desperate government. That is why they want a secret trial!”