A former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has disclosed that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan could not be summoned for questioning over the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal during his tenure.
Magu explained that this was so because official memos and documents indicated the disbursed funds were never formally approved for political campaigns.
This revelation is featured in a new biography of the late President Muhammadu Buhari titled, “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari,” written by Dr. Charles Omole. The book was launched at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Detailing the intense political drama of the period, the author notes that the scandal created palpable tension within the Peoples Democratic Party as several of its chieftains were invited for interrogation. The book suggests that the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), amassed significant influence, with some viewing him as a “co-president” alongside Jonathan.
“Tensions reportedly simmered between NSA Dasuki and Defence Minister Aliyu Gusau as procurement authority and other vital functions gravitated to the NSA, leading some to see Dasuki as a ‘co-president’ alongside Jonathan,” Omole wrote.
The narrative describes the chaotic aftermath: former PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu went into hiding to avoid questioning; former party spokesman Olisa Metuh, asked about N400 million paid to a company linked to him, swore he would rather starve than refund it—and was subsequently arrested; and former NIMASA DG Patrick Akpobolokemi was arrested, jumped bail, was rearrested, and had his surety lawyer detained.
Furthermore, six PDP zonal chairmen claimed ignorance of the source of campaign slush funds they received.
Central to the account is Magu’s explanation for not pursuing the former president. Omole wrote: “When Magu was asked about inviting former President Jonathan over the diversion of the funds, he said the EFCC would not do so because memos and documents showed that the disbursements were not officially approved for campaigns.”
Magu also expressed frustration with the legal tactics employed by powerful suspects, lamenting how “politicians who steal ‘N10 billion keep N5 billion for litigation,’ hire senior advocates, and exploit any investigative gaps.”
The book also outlines the military dimension of the probe. Acting on the recommendations of the Military Procurement Audit Committee, President Buhari directed the EFCC to investigate 17 serving and retired military officers, predominantly from the Air Force. Among them was the late Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), who was later charged with money laundering and criminal breach of trust for allegedly using N1.4 billion from Air Force accounts to purchase a mansion in Abuja.
A subsequent committee report flagged 21 companies for EFCC investigation over Air Force and NSA contracts, citing issues ranging from unspecified costs to transfers of public funds for unidentified purposes.
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