PIPELINE SABOTEURS CALLS FOR REFERRANDUM TO BREAK UP NIGERIA

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In stunning decision, Britain votes to leave the E.U.

British voters have defied the will of their leaders, foreign allies and much of the political establishment by opting to rupture this country’s primary connection to Europe in a stunning result that will radiate economic and political uncertainty across the globe.

The voters’ decision to jettison Britain’s membership in the European Union was expected to jolt markets worldwide on Friday and unsettle Western capitals. By the time the BBC had called the result at dawn in London Friday, the pound had already plummeted to its lowest level against the dollar in decades.

The vote is perhaps the most dramatic to date in a wave of populist and nationalist uprisings occurring on both sides of the Atlantic that are overturning traditional notions of what is politically possible.

For months, the political and economic elite had looked on with growing apprehension as Britain flirted with a choice — popularly known as Brexit — that experts had warned could lead to global recession and a rip in the Western alliance. The vote could also lead to Scottish secession, a broader E.U. unraveling and the fall of Prime Minister David Cameron’s government.

But most analysts had predicted this pragmatically minded country would ultimately back away from the move, and opt to keep Britain in an organization regarded as a pillar of the global economic and political order.

After months of campaigning the Leave camp has won and Britain will be leaving the E.U. The Post's Adam Taylor talks about what that means for the country and Europe. (Adam Taylor,Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

Instead, a majority of British voters heeded the call of pro-Brexit campaigners to liberate the nation from what many here regard as an oppressive Brussels bureaucracy that enables mass migration into the country.

“Let June the 23rd go down in our history as our independence day!” cried a jubilant Nigel Farage, a firebrand anti-E.U. leader, in a 4 a.m. celebration. All around him, “leave” campaigners clinked pints of beer and cheered their improbable victory.

When polls closed six hours earlier, Farage had all but conceded defeat, saying he believed “remain” had won. But as results poured in through Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday, the “remain” camp was increasingly despairing.

About a third of results had yet to be counted as of 4 a.m. local time. But the BBC reported that “leave” had taken an insurmountable lead.

The results came after 15 hours of voting, from the remote Scottish isles to the tip of Gibraltar. The outcome revealed vast divides — with massive victory margins for “remain” in thriving metropolitan centers such as London and equally resounding victories for “leave” in small towns, rural areas and struggling, post-industrial cities.

As local authorities announced results, markets swung wildly between optimism that the country would stay in, the preferred choice of investors, and pessimism that Britain had just voted to get out.

What Americans need to know about Brexit  Play Video3:22

On June 23, 2016, Britain faces a fateful decision: whether or not to leave the European Union. And the world will be watching. (Daron Taylor,Jason Aldag,Danielle Kunitz/The Washington Post)

After initially rising to a 2016 high, the pound plunged in international trading as jittery investors prepared for a scenario that had not been priced into market calculations.

As the hours ticked by, there was a dawning realization that Britain could become the first country to leave the 28-member E.U. In television interviews, “remain” supporters looked stricken and predicted catastrophe.

“God help our country,” tweeted Paddy Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader and an outspoken E.U. advocate.

The outcome will rattle officials in Washington. President Obama had made a high-profile plea for Britain to stay. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who was in Scotland on Friday to open a golf course, backed Brexit.

Although Britain may not actually leave the E.U. for years, Thursday’s vote fires the starting gun on what is widely expected to be a messy proceeding as Britain and E.U. officials begin untangling the vast web of connections between this island nation and the other 27 members of the bloc.

Thursday’s outcome will be a crippling blow to Cameron, who had campaigned vigorously for Britain to stay in the E.U. and had cast the referendum as a choice between an insular, intolerant “little England” and an outward-looking, pluralistic Great Britain.

Having failed to convince a majority of voters, he is expected to come under intense pressure to resign.

Cameron initially promised the referendum in 2013 in a bid to unite the country, and especially his Conservative Party, behind a common stance on an issue that has divided public opinion here for decades.

At the time, he may have expected a relatively easy victory. But the campaign soon went off script, as Justice Secretary Michael Gove and then-London Mayor Boris Johnson — friends and sparring partners of Cameron’s since his days at Oxford — both declared in February their intention to campaign for “out.”

The populist-minded Johnson will now be seen as the most likely successor to Cameron if the prime minister is pushed from his perch at 10 Downing Street.

“I think the Boris Johnson momentum will be unstoppable,” said Steven Fielding, a professor of political history at the University of Nottingham. “Cameron will try to find a dignified exit. But it’s not clear how long the backbenchers will give him to do that.”

The “leave” campaign found a compelling rallying cry with its call for voters to “Take Back Control,” a slogan that resonated among an electorate ill at ease with record levels of immigration — much of it from Europe under the E.U.’s free-movement policy.

Polls suggested that “leave” alienated some voters with its reliance on what critics saw as increasingly nativist rhetoric. That was particularly true after the killing last week of pro-E.U. lawmaker Jo Cox, a murder that appeared to awaken a passion in “remain” supporters that had been previously lacking.

A “leave” lead last week in the polls diminished, and the race turned into a dead heat. Surveys released Thursday as Britons votesdhad shown “remain” with a clear edge, results that cheered investors and boosted markets across Europe and Asia.

But as with last year’s British general election, the polls were badly wrong, apparently unable to capture the mood of an increasingly defiant electorate

The prevailing tone of the campaign on either side was fear and loathing, with neither venturing for long into hope or aspiration.

That spirit mirrored the angry mood of voters across the Atlantic, in the United States, and surprised even close observers of a nation that sees itself as deeply pragmatic and rational.

“Notions of Britain as a deferential, consensual society at ease with itself have been thrown out the window,” Fielding said. “This campaign has revealed a very profound mistrust among a substantial segment of society toward conventional political authority. The E.U. became a lightning rod for mistrust of politics more broadly.”

The vote split the country along essential lines: Old versus young. Provincial versus metropolitan. Scotland versus England. Native-born Britons versus immigrants.

As the first votes were cast nationwide — with the often-variable British weather running the gamut from a torrential downpour in London to sunny, clear skies in Scotland — anxiety was the prevailing mood.

Hilary Clarke, a 45-year-old stay-at-home mom, was the first to vote at a southwest London polling station. She said she would use her stubby pencil to check "remain" on her ballot.

“If I had been confident, I wouldn’t be standing in the rain at 7 in the morning,” she said as she sheltered beneath a colorful umbrella. "The reason I’m first in the queue is I’m going straight to the airport to go to Barcelona, and I may not return if vote goes the wrong way.”

Clarke said she could not understand the logic of those pushing for "leave."

@Washington Post

 

  

 

EFCC UNCOVERS PAYMENT OF N1.3b TO SENATOR OMISORE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered payment of N1.310billion to three firms linked with a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore.

The cash was part of the N4.74billion which a former Minister of State (Defence), Musiliu Obanikoro hauled to Governor Ayodele Fayose in a chartered plane on June 12, 2014.

The firms are Fimex Gilt Limited, Metropolitan Consortium and Sawanara.

Preliminary findings indicated that the companies’ accounts in which the N1.310billion was paid into allegedly belong to Omisore.

According to a report by the EFCC, the N1.310billion traced to Omisore and the three companies was remitted as follows: Fimex Gilt Limited (N160m) -8/8/2014in UBA; Metropolitan Consortium (N350m)—9/7/14 in First Bank; Sawanara (N300m)—1/8/14 in First Bank and Metropolitan Consortium (N350m)-1/8/14 in First Bank.

A top EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Preliminary findings have shown that N1.310billion out of the N4.745billion from ONSA was remitted to the three firms and the accounts of these three companies belong to Omisore. This is one of the reasons we have invited the former Deputy Governor but he is yet to show up.

“We have also declared him wanted and we are still looking for him.”

In an affidavit before a court, Omisore once admitted that he had a link with Fimex Gilt Limited as a director.

He said the EFCC was desperate to arrest and humiliate him.

He said although he was a director of the company, he had since resigned.

He said he loaned the company through its MD the “funds required to perform the contract.”

He added: “That upon the company’s receipt of the payment from ONSA for the contract, the MD repaid to me the prior sum I had lent to Fimex Gilt Limited after I had resigned as a director of the company.

“That since resigning as a director of Fimex  Gilt Limited, I have no further interests, affiliations or dealings with same and I was in no way involved in the performance of the contract between  ONSA and  Fimex  Gilt Limited.

The anti-graft agency wrote to Omisore on April 7,  inviting him for interrogation.

The letter, signed by Abubakar Madaki on behalf of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, reads in part: “The commission is investigating an alleged case in which your name featured prominently.

“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to interview the undersigned on Monday, 11th of April 2016 at No.30, Harper Crescent, Wuse Zone 7 at 10am.

“Your cooperation in this regard is solicited.”

Instead of honouring the invitation, Omisore wrote through one of his lawyers, Wole Jimi-Bada and Co., that the interview should be rescheduled to April 14.

The counsel said: “We regret to inform you that our client travelled briefly out of Abuja but will return by Wednesday evening accordingly to our instructions. Consequently and unfortunately, he will not be able to attend the interview scheduled for Monday, 11th April 2016 as requested in your letter under reference.

The Nation

EFCC TRACES N4.745b ARMS CASH TO OBANIKORO,FAYOSE

FAYOSE.                                                                                           OBANIKORO

Detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have traced about N4.745billion of the diverted $2. 1billion arms cash (Dasukigate) to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State (Defence).

According to TheNation, its correspondent stumbled on a document which reveal that EFCC investigators discovered that a firm, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons, was used to launder the N4.745billion.

The cash was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under ex-NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) prior to the conduct of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election.

“On June 12, 2014, the sum of N1, 219, 490,000 was flown from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu Obanikoro through a chartered plane (HS 125 jet) with a tail number N638MA. The plane belongs to Okin Travels which is a subsidiary of Elizade Motors. But the aircraft was then managed by OAS Helicopters for commercial/chartered service,” the document reads.

“The N1, 219, 490,000 was in two consignments but flown in the same aircraft twice in the morning and in the evening. From FAAN records, the first cash of N724, 500,000 arrived at Akure Airport at an estimated time of 9.38am and the second was at 17.57hours.

“A bullion van was brought by Zenith Bank to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to evacuate the cash to Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure.

“Obanikoro handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey). This Abiodun in company with the bank officials moved the money to Zenith Bank in Akure.

“The N1, 219, 490,000 was not deposited in any account but it was kept in a vault in the bank. It took the bank officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it was counted,

“Shortly after confirming the figure, Abiodun was used to coordinate the disbursement of the funds. On June 26, 2014, the wanted associate (Abiodun Agbele) paid N137million into Ayodele Fayose’s account 10003126654 with Zenith Bank through Teller-0556814. Fayose’s BVN on the teller is 22338867502.

“On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account. By the records from the bank, Abiodun paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s account on 27/8/14.

“Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street, Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502.

“After that, Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless Hotel Account run by Fayose and Helen Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and Helen’s BVN in the account is 22298990256.

“The Governor and Helen are the two directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account.”

Money Laundering: How Ex-Nasarawa Gov, Akwe Doma Diverted N350m State Fund-Witness

The trial of a former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and two others continued yesterday (Wednesday), June 22, 2016 before Justice Agatha A. Okeke, with a prosecution witness, Ego Maikeffi Abashe, the Clerk of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, revealing how the former governor had allegedly diverted the sum of N350m from the state funds.

Doma alongside Timothy Anthony Anjide, a former Secretary to the State Government, and Dauda Egwa, a former Accountant-General, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and financial crimes.

 

The accused persons between January, 2007 and December, 2009 allegedly conspired and fraudulently laundered state funds to the tune of  N8bn, an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering  (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.

 

At the resumed hearing today, Abashe told the court there was no approval or record by the House of Assembly for the sum of N350 million allegedly disbursed under the title of ‘‘special releases’’.

Abashe, who was led in evidence by Kemi Phinheiro, SAN, also told the court that the State House of Assembly did not initiate the disbursement of N70 million as shown to him in exhibit 23aa-cc.

He added: ‘‘I can’t  recall the disbursements of N80 million as shown in  exhibit 23ca; N150 million as shown in exhibit 23ab and N120 million as shown in exhibit 23ba,  as there was no record or memo initiated for such releases; and there was no cheque raised for special releases in the office of the House of Assembly.’’

Abashe, who stated that he was familiar with the records of the House of Assembly even before becoming the Clerk, added that ‘‘ for additional funding, which is not captured by the budget, the Clerk will put out a memo endorsed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly and addressed to the State Executive  (Governor). The Governor would approve the memo, which would be conveyed to the House of Assembly and then taken to the Office of the Accountant- General for a cheque to be released.’’ 

According to him, funding of the House of Assembly is initiated by a memo and not by any other means.

While being cross-examined by A. F. Yusuf regarding the disbursements, he said that he was not the Clerk as at the time the disbursements were carried out.

He, however, said the procedures for disbursement were the same and were all in the files.

Still testifying, he said: ‘‘Monies meant for security matters are not addressed to the Clerk or channelled to the Clerk, as security matters are not discussed in the House of Assembly.’’

Another prosecution witness, Abubakar Sadiq Ishaq, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Cabinet Affairs and Special Services, presented two documents titled: Expenditure Needs for the Nasarawa State Public Services and Part of Nasarawa State Executive Council Convention, which were tendered and admitted as exhibit P30 and P31, respectively.

He told the court that the documents were to guide government officials, ministries, departments and agencies particularly in areas of finances.

Ishaq, who was formerly a director in the same office, said: “It was proposed that the governor could not make expenditure above N50m. However, the  Governor can expend any amount and later make ratification provided that the expenditure was done in the interest of the state and in accordance with due process.’’

When Ishaq was presented with exhibit P20, which was an approval for N496 million initiated by the Office of the Secretary to the State government, he told the court that there was no ratification by State executive council for it.

Also,  going through exhibit P23 (cc), which was the approval granted by  Doma for N150 million and P23 (ba) for N120 million , he told the court there was no directive to the State executive for ratification and he did not receive any ratification for it either.

The case has been adjourned to June 23, 2016 for continuation of trial

@EFCC

Media & Publicity

22nd June, 2016

EFCC goes after Fayose’s wife

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will soon invite Feyisetan Fayose, wife of Ayo Fayose Ekiti state governor.

The newspaper said the first lady of Ekiti allegedly received N100m through an account which is operated by her and her husband.

It quoted the agency as saying the money, which emanated from the account of the office of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, was paid into the Zenith Bank account of Spotless Investment Limited on June 17, 2014, less than a week to the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti.

The money was paid into the company’s account with bank teller number 0540997 by one Abiodun Agbele, said to be an associate of the governor.

The two signatories to Spotless Investment Limited’s account are said to be Fayose and his wife.

“N100m was paid into the Spotless Investment Limited account with number 1010170969 at Zenith Bank. The two signatories are Fayose, with Bank Verification Number 22338867502, and his wife, Helen Olayemi, with BVN 22298990256,” the newspaper quoted a detective as saying.

As a sitting governor, Fayose cannot be prosecuted or arrested because he enjoys immunity.

“His wife, however, has no immunity,” the official reportedly said.

Fayose has denied collecting any money from Dasuki, saying Zenith Bank sponsored his election.

He dared the EFCC to produce evidence that he benefitted from the controversial arms deal.

The governor accused the agency of “acting a movie being scripted by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari”, but said he will fight to the end.

thecableng

Afrinvest Executives Reengineering Nigeria’s Economy

Leading wealth advisory firm, Afrinvest, has established itself as a repository of top quality executives and leaders who would play a critical role not only in driving the growth of businesses but also improving public sector efficiency and economic recovery. 

The appointment of 30-year old Mark Okoye, a former Associate at the firm, as Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget Development in Anambra State is further confirmation of that fact.

Okoye follows in the footsteps of the firm’s Founder, Godwin Obaseki, who served as the pioneer Chairman of the Edo State Economy and Strategy Team (now flagbearer for the APC in the Edo State Governorship elections 2016), as well as the current Managing Director of the company, Ike Chioke, who is a serving member of the Enugu State Economic Advisory Committee and Director-General of Oganiru Enugu State Investment Summit.

Prior to his recent appointment, Okoye had served as Executive Director, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, and was also the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Economic Planning and Budget. He studied finance at the George Washington University, USA, and has attended several executive courses and programs at various institutions including the Harvard Kennedy School and Cambridge, UK.

Okoye is one of several young and brilliant minds associated with Afrinvest. Earlier in February, the firm announced the appointment of two young directors to its board, and has its key subsidiaries and functions managed by equally grounded young executives – a testament to the firm’s strong belief in the ability of Nigerian youths to engender meaningful socio-economic development.

Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited is a wealth advisory firm involved in investment banking, securities trading, asset management and investment research with a focus on West Africa.

Nigeria agrees one-month ceasefire with Delta militants, officials say.

Nigeria has agreed a one-month ceasefire with militants behind recent attacks on oil facilities in its southern Niger Delta, a petroleum ministry official said on Tuesday, as efforts continue to end the unrest that has pushed crude output to 30-year lows.

Militants say they want a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth to go to the impoverished Delta region. Crude sales make up about 70 percent of national income and the vast majority of that oil comes from the southern swampland.

The ministry official said the Niger Delta Avengers, who have claimed responsibility for most attacks in the last few weeks, were among those who have agreed to the truce. A second government official confirmed that a truce was agreed.

But militant groups including the Avengers, who last week told the government they would only agree to talks if independent foreign mediators were involved, could not immediately be reached for comment. The group, whose leaders are not known, mainly communicates via its twitter feed.

It may be difficult to implement a ceasefire in the hard to access swamps where militants are divided into small groups that tap widespread anger over poverty and oil spills. Leaders have little sway over unemployed youths willing to work for anyone who pays them.

Earlier this month, the government said the military campaign in the Delta would be scaled down as part of an attempt to pursue talks with militants, who laid down their arms in 2009 in exchange for cash benefits under a government amnesty scheme.

The petroleum ministry official, who asked not to be identified, said the ceasefire was agreed last week when a government delegation led by the oil minister, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, held talks with community leaders and state governors.

"It was very difficult getting the Niger Delta Avengers to the negotiating table, but we eventually did through a proxy channel and achieved the truce," said the official.

"Government requested more than a month but since they insisted a month we have no choice than to oblige them. Government will use this period of respite to come up with a master plan for the region," added the official.

Nigeria, an OPEC member, was Africa's top oil producer until the recent spate of attacks pushed it behind Angola. Oil production has fallen from 2.2 million barrels at the start of the year to around 1.6 million barrels.

The impact on output has also helped global oil prices to rally.

NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Neither the presidency nor the petroleum ministry issued official statements on a truce. President Muhammadu Buhari has said the government wanted to hold talks with Niger Delta leaders to address poverty and oil pollution.

But his administration angered former militants when it cut by two-thirds the budget allocated for the amnesty programme set up in 2009. Ex-militants were paid stipends and given employment training from that programme.

A number of new militant groups have sprung up in the last few weeks, each with their own set of demands, which has made the insurgency increasingly fractured. It is not yet clear how many groups took part in the talks.

A Nigeria-based security expert, who did not want to be named, said he did not believe the government has been holding talks with the right people. 

In a sign of apparent discord among groups in the Delta, former militants who were known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have criticised the Avengers and urged them to negotiate with the government.

In the most recent statement posted on the Avengers' website, dated June 18, the group said of the ex-militants, "if you and your criminals want to resurrect the defunct MEND and negotiate with the Government that is your business".

"We once again, restate that we are not going to be part of any dialogue and peace that will achieve only 'the peace of our time'," it added.

CNBCAFRICA

NORTH KOREA FIRES ITS BEST MISSILE YET !

North Korea is not only continuing to defy international warnings to stop testing ballistic missiles, it's starting to get pretty good at launching them. Relatively speaking, anyway: Pyongyang launched two intermediate-range Musudan missiles in the direction of Japan yesterday (Wednesday), reports the BBC. 

The first one flopped almost immediately, just like four previous launches. But the second one reached an altitude of about 620 miles before plunging into the sea, raising concern in both South Korea and Japan, reports Reuters. 

The missile also covered about 250 miles, getting more than halfway to Japan's coast. The BBC notes the missile's range is much further; it's unclear whether it fell short due to failure or was intentionally kept from reaching Japan.

"This is a very important milestone because the previous launches had blown up either very shortly after launch or possibly even right at launch," an analyst at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California tells the Voice of America. "So this is a real sign of progress." 

Japan's defense chief put it more succinctly: "The threat to Japan is intensifying." South Korea and the US are still assessing the test, but South Korean President Park Geun-hye denounced the "reckless provocation."

 

UN resolutions forbid the North from working on ballistic missile technology, notes the BBC, but the launches suggest that Pyongyang is having little trouble obtaining the technology and the know-how.

@newser

BUHARI APPOINTS NEW IGP

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, as the Acting Inspector-General of Police pending his confirmation by the Police Council, a presidency statement said Tuesday.

Idris’ appointment follows the official retirement of Mr. Solomon Arase from the job Monday.

Mr. Arase and Mr. Idris jointly met with President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday afternoon at the Presidential Villa.

“The Acting Inspector-General, who hails from Kutigi, Lavun in Niger State, was born on 15th of January 1959, and was enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a Bachelors degree in Agriculture. He also holds a degree in Law from the University of Maiduguri.

“AIG Idris has served in various commands and formations in the Nigerian Police Force, working in the Police Mobile Force for 17 years as Unit Commander, Squadron Commander, and Commandant. He served as Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa and Kano States and was also the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force at the Force Headquarters.

“He was also at the United Nations Mission in Liberia and East Timor and was awarded “Medal of Merit” by the President of the Republic of East Timor in recognition of his service.

“AIG Idris, who was in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters before his appointment as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, will act in that capacity pending his confirmation,” Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, (Media & Publicity), said.



TheWill



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Several Army Generals & Officers "Fired" Over Corruption,Electoral Fraud

Nigeria’s army has sent nearly 200 officers packing in a move to rid the armed forces of corruption .

The army officers are being accused of stealing billions of dollars meant for buying arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to the army spokesperson Colonel Shani Kikesheka Usman, some of the officers who have been fired held senior ranks within the Nigerian army.

He further added that others were handed to the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigations over diverting billions meant for the purchase of arms while others played partisan roles in the 2015 general elections.

Among the officers on trial for corruption are two former defense staff.

Also on trial is former national security adviser retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who admitted to diverting $ 2.1 billion dollars, nearly half of the country’s army budget, on the orders of former president Goodluck Jonathan, to bribe officials to win Jonathan his party’s presidential nomination.



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