New details have emerged revealing that former National Security Adviser (NSA) to Nigeria, Sambo Dasuki, was under investigation for his purchase of a U.S.-based horse farm well before the infamous $2.1 billion arms deal scandal that rocked the Nigerian government.
Investigators had raised concerns about Dasuki's acquisition of a luxury horse farm in the United States, which was reportedly funded through suspicious sources. Early investigations into this purchase date back to 2013, just after Dasuki took office, and long before the 2015 revelation of the $2.1 billion arms deal, which involved the illegal diversion of funds meant for the purchase of military equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgents.
At the center of this new investigation is the mystery surrounding how Dasuki was able to secure such an expensive property while maintaining his position in government. Authorities have revealed that although the horse farm was purchased in the U.S. in 2014, no financial records linking the purchase to legitimate sources of income were found. The timing of the purchase raises further questions about his financial dealings and the possible links to larger corruption networks that have plagued Nigeria's defense sector.
Sources familiar with the investigation have pointed to what is believed to be a network of intermediaries who facilitated the transaction, which involved millions of dollars being funneled through offshore accounts to conceal the origins of the money. As the investigation into this purchase continues, further links to other high-profile figures in the arms deal scandal are expected to surface.
The revelations come as part of a broader ongoing investigation into the mismanagement of public funds during Dasuki's tenure as NSA. The U.S. authorities, who are actively cooperating with Nigerian law enforcement, have yet to confirm any formal legal action regarding the horse farm purchase. However, the findings could play a pivotal role in the larger case that continues to unfold in both Nigeria and abroad.
"The investigation into Sambo Dasuki's illicit dealings extends far beyond the well-known $2.1 billion arms deal," said a spokesperson for the Nigerian Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). "We are committed to holding individuals accountable for any actions that undermine the integrity of our government and national security, and we will pursue all leads, no matter where they may lead."