DSS ends one month siege, re-arrests Dasuki

• He was whisked away at 9 a.m, says aide

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday re-arrested former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), after ending nearly one-month old siege to his residence.

As at the time of going to press, the Service had not given reason for Dasuki’s arrest or confirmed that the former NSA is in their custody. But it was clear that he was whisked away as confirmed by one of his aides, who preferred not to be named.

Besides, the number of operatives around Dasuki’s 13 John Kadiya Street residence was greatly reduced. One of the two DSS operational vehicles at the end of the street, two blocks away from the residence, was not seen there yesterday.
The Guardian was told that the Security operatives took Dasuki away at about 0900 hours local time on Tuesday. “No one knew what they discussed with him before he followed them in one of their operational SUVs, but it is apparent they want to question him on some things.

“Remember he (Dasuki) had told Nigerians that he was neither responsible for the release of the funds nor the request for it, but all the funds that were released for the purchase of arms for the military were duly approved and signed by the then President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. So, for now, we believe the government would want to insist he put it down in a statement,” a source told The Guardian.

It was also gathered that the arrest of Dasuki is not unconnected to the information gathered by the security agencies from some of the top government functionaries in the office of the NSA and others that served during the period.
According to a source at the DSS, who also confirmed that Dasuki was in custody, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is working closely with the DSS on the arms deal matter because “it has affected our operations as well”.

The service would not arrest Dasuki if there were no issues that need answers.

Since the beginning of last week, many officials who had served under Dasuki were being quizzed by the EFCC investigators. “It climaxed on Monday when it was confirmed that the former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, were among those being questioned by the anti-graft agency.