Thursday 9 October 2014 15 Dhul-Hijjah 1435 INTERNATIONAL LETTERS VIDEOS PHOTOS ADVERTISE POLL NEWS INDEPTH FOR THE RECORD TOP STORIES EMAIL HOME NEWS 10TH ANNUAL TRUST DIALOGUE EKITI 2014 BUSINESS POLITICS SPORTS CITY NEWS COLUMNS MONDAY COLUMNS TUESDAY COLUMNS WEDNESDAY COLUMNS THURSDAY COLUMNS FRIDAY COLUMNS CANDID JOE EDITORIAL FEATURE OPINION ABOUT US PAPERS WEEKLY TRUST SUNDAY TRUST AMINIYA AGRICULTURE EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT HEALTH HOME FRONT IT WORLD LABOUR LAW PROPERTY ISLAMIC FORUM WOMEN ENTERPRENEURS A+AA- DOKUBO INVOLVED IN $9.3M ARMS SAGA, APC ALLEGES I AM NOT INVOLVED, DOKUBO SAYS Category: Lead stories Published on Thursday, 09 October 2014 05:02 Written by Balarabe Alkassim & Adelanwa Bamigboye Hits: 12703 View Comments The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain what Mujaheed Asari Dokubo was doing on the jet that ferried $9.3m to South Africa on September 5. Two Nigerians and an Israeli were on that plane, according to reports by the South African media. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, APC spokesman Lai Mohammed alleged that Dokubo was on the jet, which belongs to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor but was leased to another company before the incident. Mohammed said since the Federal Government has admitted ownership of the cash, government should know the involve-ment of all those aboard the plane. He said government has a lot of questions to answer on the whole deal, including whether Asari Dokubo is the contractor or the end-user, who he was procuring arms for and for what purpose. APC said the questions become pertinent because even the NSA, who issued the end-user agreement for the purchase, does not and cannot purchase arms for any of the armed services. The Service Chiefs have separate budgets from the NSA for arms purchase. “Under our Constitution, the NSA is an adviser and has no executive powers to deploy troops from any of the services or purchase arms for them. That the arms purported to be purchased from South Africa were ordered from the office of the NSA is nothing but mere fabrication, and raises serious questions about the motive of the purchase,” the statement said. “If these arms are meant to fight insurgency, as the government has claimed, what is Asari Dokubo’s business purchasing arms for the Nigerian military, if indeed they were for the military? Does it not occur to the Nigerian government that this man who once took arms against the state may not have jettisoned his sinister plan against the same state? Which country will ever allow a man who once carried arms against the state to now be purchasing arms for the same state?” Mohammed pointed out. “Even if it is true that he is purchasing the arms for the state, what prevents him from also using the opportunity to purchase arms for his own sinister motive? Could this be why Asari Dokubo has been talking publicly and confidently, without official censure, that President Jonathan must be re-elected or Nigeria will not know peace again?” Dokubo has not spoken publicly since the arms cash saga blew open mid-last month, even though allegations of his involvement have been circulating on social media. Daily Trust tried unsuccessfully yesterday to get a response from Dokubo’s lawyer Mr Festus Keyamo. When our reporter called, Keyamo did not answer but he sent a text message to say he was busy. Our reporter then sent texted back asking for reaction to the APC allegations against Dokubo, but Keyamo did not reply to the SMS. I am not involved The Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, has denied involvement in the $9.3 million botched arms deal in South Africa. The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the Federal Government to explain the ex-militant leader’s involvement in the deal. According media reports, Asari-Dokubo spoke to reporters on telephone from Saudi Arabia where he is performing the Hajj. He said he was in Nigeria at the time of the incident before moving to Saudi Arabia. He said he had not been to South Africa since 2002. ”Can you enter any country without a visa? I’m in Saudi Arabia performing my Hajj as the Amirul Hajj of Bayelsa State and this can be confirmed. I flew Flynass from Kaduna on September 27. My passport is here. I flew Arik airline from Lagos on 27th and went to Kaduna where I flew Flynass airline to Saudi Arabia. blog comments powered by DISQUS back to top Facebook Disqus TOP STORIES Police arrest man with human skull Governor Ngilari moves to reconcile with state legislators Dokubo involved in $9.3m arms saga, APC alleges I am not involved, Dokubo says Adamawa governorship tussle:Ngilari takes over, calculus changes Boko Haram more vicious than ISIS says CDS Ebola: FG donates N560m to Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone Ngilari sworn-in as Adamawa governor B/Haram: Cameroon, others yet to fulfill troops surge pledge Kano electric coy hit by crisis over N670m ‘illegality’ Trust Editor, two reporters nominated for Africa journo award S/Africa seizes more Nigerian arms cash Immigration: 7 months after stampede, victims yet to get FG’s jobs South Africa impounds another $5.7m cash-for-arms from Nigeria 2015 elections: Over 300 jostle for 29 governors’ seats Military in move to retake Michika, Bazza PrevNextPage: SPORTS UPDATES Photo News: Super Eagles trainning ahead of AFCON qualifier against Sudan CAF congratulates Pinnick on election as NFF boss NFF charges Eagles to go for victory in Sudan AFCON: Super Eagles leave for Sudan Don’t ask me about Uche again – Keshi Board member canvases support for boxing Eagles ‘big boys’ shun media parley Pillars still top after winning 5-goal thriller Echiejele wants maximum points against Sudan Eagles record full house for battle of Khartoum Over 140 golfers to play for charity in Port Harcourt Eagles should ease pressure with Sudan win, says Akosu Okocha expresses doubts on Eagles AFCON qualification Ghana, Egypt, five others bid for AFCON 2017 Igiebor, Aluko, 8 other Eagles open Abuja camp PrevNextPage: AGRICULTURE EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT HEALTH HOME FRONT IT WORLD LABOUR LAW PROPERTY ISLAMIC FORUM WOMEN ENTERPRENEURS InternationalLettersVideosPhotosAdvertisePollNews IndepthFor The RecordTop StoriesEmail Media Trust Limited (C) 2013
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