$2.1 bn Arms Deal: Bafarawa Denies Receiving Money From Dasuki, Laments Media Trial

A former Governor of Sokoto State and one time presidential candidate, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, on Thursday, denied receiving money from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

As the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, looks into how the $2.1 billion meant for arms deal was dispensed, reports emerged that Bafarawa, who is a strong ally of the embattled former NSA, allegedly collected about N4.6 billion for what was termed “spiritual purposes”.

However, this allegation has been denied by an aide of the former governor who served under him as a Special Adviser on Youth and Students Matters, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu.

According to Dalhatu, the ex-governor has no such financial dealing with retired Col. Dasuki nor did he collect any money from him for any purpose.

“The former governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa did not receive any money from Col. Sambo Dasuki for any arms deal or for any purpose”, Dalhatu said.

The aide, who said had visited his boss at the EFCC headquarters Abuja, added that the former governor was never arrested at home or anywhere else as has been alleged in some quarters.

He insisted that Mr. Bafarawa merely honoured an invitation extended to him by the anti-graft agency.

“The truth is that Governor Bafarawa went to the EFCC to honour an invitation made to him by the agency while he was abroad. He had informed them through a letter by his lawyers that he was abroad and would honour their invitation on return. Governor Bafarawa went to the office of EFCC with his lawyer and an aide”, he said‎

Dalhatu, however, decried the seeming orchestrated media trial of his boss, which he noted was aimed at tarnishing his image.

“We have seen deliberate falsehoods published in the newspapers and social media platforms, designed deliberately to tarnish the image and person of Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. Some of the writers and media outfits have access to Governor Bafarawa and his media advisers. It would appear that the media is being used to play out a script that has been written long before now”, he added.