The Committee set up to investigate the suspended Director General, DG, of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, and the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has discarded its plans to invite former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for questioning.
The Committee, which is led by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Moguno, as members.
Recall, that on Friday, the suspended NIA DG had informed Osinbajo and the NSA that the money, which was originally, $289,202,382, was approved by President Goodluck Jonathan.
However, an impeccable source within the Federal Government revealed that Jonathan would not be invited.
The source said: “We have carried out several probes, including the $2.1 billion arms scam involving the (former) Service Chiefs and the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki; we have probed the $1.3 billion Malabu scam, involving the former AGF, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), as well as dozens of other investigations.
“In all of these, the persons involved have all claimed to have received approval from Jonathan. But inviting or prosecuting a former President, has a lot of implications.”
Also, another source familiar with the work of the Committee, disclosed that it was unlikely that Jonathan would be invited over the matter.
The source said: “I can tell you that it is most unlikely that the Committee will question the former President.
“Firstly, a former President cannot be treated that way. We are not talking about criminal prosecution here. But in this kind of case, he will be treated with the respect he deserves.
“Secondly, that he approved the money in itself is not a crime. The concern of the Committee will be about what the money was used for after approval.
“It is possible for security agencies to seek approval for money and state the purpose. It is another thing for them to spend the money on the purpose for which it was approved.”
The source however added that, if Jonathan of his own volition offers to assist investigation, by providing helpful information through back channels, such information would be appreciated.
Recall, that there were reports last week, that Jonathan, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, will be questioned by the Presidential Panel, over the recovered N13 billion.
According to the reports, the Panel would contact the former President, and arrange a convenient way to meet him, rather than invite him.
