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Al-Mustapha’s trial: NSA returned cash to
CBN
By
Yusuf Alli The Nation Mon
Aug 8,2011
Former security chief Hamza al-Mustapha’s claim that Yoruba
leaders got bribe is a big lie, it emerged at the weekend.
al-Mustapha said the late Chief Abraham Adesanya and the late
Chief Bola Ige were bribed by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar
government to kill the June 12 struggle.
But, The Nation discovered at the weekend that the cash
al-Mustapha claimed the leaders got was, in fact, returned to
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Adesanya was leader of Afenifere and the National Democratic
Coalition (NADECO). Ige, a former Attorney-General of the
Federation, was deputy leader.
The cash was used for what a security source described as
“sighting” in order to recover looted funds from some key aides
of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, when they were not
being cooperative with the government.
The state may testify against al-Mustapha at a Lagos High Court
to prove that no bribe was given to any Yoruba leader, it was
learnt.
al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of
State Gen. Abacha, last week alleged that a former National
Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed, to ex-Head of
State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, had withdrawn $200million,
£75million and N500milion from the CBN in 1998.
He alleged that the strange withdrawal was meant to bribe Yoruba
leaders after the death of the acclaimed winner of the June 12,
1993 presidential election, the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
Investigation however revealed that the controversial sums had
been returned to the CBN by the former NSA.
According to documents obtained by The Nation, the return of the
controversial sums was duly acknowledged by the CBN.
Some of the documents contained three letters exchanged between
the ex-NSA and the CBN.
In an August 11, 1998 letter (NSA/A 320/S) to the Director of
Exchange of the CBN, the ex-NSA conveyed the return of the said
sums.
The letter, titled FOREIGN EXCHANGE, said: “Returned herewith
are the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars (US$150m)
and Seventy Five Million Pounds (£75million) cash.
“This office hereby undertakes to indemnify the CBN of any
discrepancy Please.”
In a letter of August 11, 1998 to the ex-NSA, the CBN
acknowledged the receipt of the said funds.
The CBN letter was signed by its Senior Manager (Collection
Officer), Dr. A. Yabagi and Manager, I. Nnaji.
The letter of the apex bank said: “We write to confirm the
receipt of the following: (i) One hundred and fifty(150) boxes
said to contain an initial sum of US$150million in $100
denomination; and (ii)One hundred and fifty(150) boxes said to
contain total sum of GBP 75million in GB150 denomination.
“The two receipts were delivered to us on 10th August 1998.
“Finally, we also note the fact that you have undertaken to
indemnify the CBN of any discrepancy that may occur during the
counting of notes.
“In the meantime, all the 300 boxes have been sealed in the
presence of your officer, Mr. S. Haliru, who delivered the
consignment to us.”
In a follow up letter to the ex-NSA on September 17, 1998 by the
CBN, signed by a Senior Manager and titled “RE: CONFIRMATION OF
RECEIPT OF FUNDS, the apex bank said: “We refer to our letter
Ref. No. FODMBCO/ ABUJA/BJHO/ CTM.155413/Vol II dated 11th
August, 1998 and hereby inform you that we have counted the
currency notes in the (i) 150 boxes of the US $ notes; (ii) 150
boxes of the GBP notes and confirm the exact amount as follows (i)
US$150,000,000, (ii) GBP 74,999,950.00.
“Therefore, we hereby acknowledge receipt of (i) US$150,000,000
and ii) GBP 74,999,950.00.
“Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter on the attached
copy sir.”
A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “No bribe sum was
offered Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige or any of the
chieftains of Afenifere and NADECO to compromise on June 12
annulment and the death of Chief Abiola.
“The truth is that when Gen Abdulsalami came on board, a mass
looting of the treasury by government officials who served Gen.
Abacha was detected. Those officials were not ready to part with
their loot.
“What the government did was to play a fast one on the officials
by using a security decoy to retrieve the loot.
“The ex-NSA came up with an idea which was approved by the
government. The idea was to retrieve money from the CBN for what
we call sighting in security parlance. The sums were put in a
vault and these ex-officials in Abacha’s administration were
invited one by one to see how their colleagues had been
refunding looted funds.
“With that, the affected officials, including a security chief,
offered to return their share of looted funds. That was how the
government of Abdulsalami was able to recover substantial sum
from these ex-officials.
“What al-Mustapha did was to touch on critical security matters
which may force the government to open up or ask those involved
to speak no matter how sensitive their assignments were.
“It is unfortunate that the revelations may touch on security
matters but some of the actors are died and nobody can speak for
them.
“At the appropriate time, the state may be willing to respond to
al-Mustapha through appropriate channels. No one will cover up
anything.”
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