…..Negotiations pitch at presidency to save prominent Nigerians
A soft landing that will guarantee his freedom is in the offing for the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in the ongoing probe into the $2.1 billion arms deal in which many politicians and business men in the country have been indicted.
Those who are negotiating the bail with the presidency are essentially retired military personnel whose membership are said to have been indicted.
The negotiations, according to National Daily sources close to the presidency, were initiated just as the Directorate of Security Services, DSS, is planning to press fresh charges against the embattled ex-NSA that will make it difficult for him not to regain his freedom in the nearest future.
According to information available, documents in the custody of Colonel Dasuki (rtd) are said to have indicted a number of military personnel especially retired men who have dealings one way or another with the office of the former NSA.
The retired generals currently negotiating the soft landing for Dasuki are those behind the idea of the secret trial for the former NSA initially favoured by the federal government but which he has rejected.
According to our sources Colonel Dasuki had vowed to spill the beans in an open trial rather than cover up for a section of beneficiaries from the fund meant for purchasing arms but were diverted.
However the peace initiatives thickened last week against the backdrop that Dasuki was in possession of documents especially vouchers and bank accounts of beneficiaries of the fund capable of indicting certain top retired generals, highly placed politicians and even officials close to the present administration.
Those behind the peaceful resolution of the matter are said to have given their commitment that they would ensure that whatever anyone benefitted would return to government coffers.
A number of deliberations were said to have been held last week between the retired military men and officials of the presidency with a view to finding a purely political solution to the arms deal probe.
The idea of those who have benefitted from the sharing of part of the $2.1 billion to return it to government’s treasury without being prosecuted was said to have been floated in one of the meetings held at the weekend.