Political associates, friends and close relations are said to have distant themselves from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who is currently facing an ordeal over alleged arms deal as his family throws into disarray.
The operatives of Department of State Service (DSS) on Tuesday morning picked him in his Asokoro, Abuja where he has restricted himself to apparently to avoid being arrested by the security operatives who have been keeping vigil in his premises.
Dasuki has consistently denied ever receiving any formal or informal invitation to appear before an Investigative Panel on the Procurement of hardware and munitions in the armed forces.
While responding to a statement from the Presidency he said he was never been invited formally or informally to appear before the panel.
According to an informed source close to him, Dasuki has been left in the cold by political associates, friends and relations including those he worked with under the watch of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Until his arrest today, his residence had been deserted by political associates, friends and even relations for fear of being arrested or invited by the security operatives,” one of his neighbours who does not want his name in print told our correspondent.
According to him, “Since the arrest of (former Sokoto state governor, Attahiru) Bafarawa’s son by the security people coupled with the reports that Boni Haruna who stood for him in the court was invited and questioned by those people, everyone who knows the man has been running away.”
Speaking further, the source disclosed that Dasuki’s wife and one of his children were the only ones living in the house adding, “and even the son does not know what to do since he has been away from the country for his studies for years only came in to look after his father’s health. Someone who said he is their relation said the man’s health must be attended to before too late because the man is having an undisclosed ailment.”
Another person said, “the whole family has been thrown into confusion right from when his plight began. They don’t know whom to run to as everyone is afraid and I learnt that every kobo he has in the house has been impounded.”
This source said Dasuki once “told us recently that every kobo he spent was approved and every contract was given a due process. He even showed us some documents where the service chiefs were making requests for what he purchased.”
However, a young man who simply introduced himself as Yahaya said what Dasuki is going through should be a lesson to those who misused public money to change or face the consequences.
“What Dasuki is facing today is a lesson to those who enrich themselves with public money. Thank God for President (Muhammadu) Buhari who is fighting the war against corruption. Everyone who was involved in the arms deal should face trial.
“It is a pity that officers and soldiers who refused to fight terrorists with little or no arms were tried and sentenced to death while those who were responsible for what they did are walking freely on the streets”.
According to him, “The government should accelerate his trial, if they are sure he is indicted by the probe or let go of him. But there should be no cover up.”
