EFCC Alleges ₦4.6bn Security Funds Diverted to Pilgrimage, PDP Rallies and 2015 Elections
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Kazeem Yusuf, on Tuesday testified before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, that the sum of ₦4.6 billion released from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the procurement of security equipment was instead diverted to non‑security purposes, including sponsorship of pilgrimage to Makkah, funding of the 2015 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rallies, and the presidential election.
The testimony was given in the ongoing trial of former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; former National Security Adviser, Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd); former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Attahiru; and Dalhatu Investment Limited, a company owned by Bafarawa and his son. The matter is before Justice Yusuf Halilu.
The defendants are facing prosecution by the EFCC, on behalf of the Federal Government, under an amended 25‑count charge bordering on misappropriation of public funds, criminal breach of trust, and receipt of stolen property.
Led in evidence‑in‑chief by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Mr. Yusuf (PW2) stated that EFCC investigations revealed that although contracts were awarded by ONSA for the supply of security equipment, the contracts were never executed. Instead, the funds were diverted to other uses. He confirmed that official correspondence from ONSA corroborated that the contracts were intended for security purposes but were not implemented.
Upon interrogation, Sagir Bafarawa (the fourth defendant) presented a list of expenditures to the Commission, which included payments for pilgrimage to Makkah, organisation of PDP rallies, disbursements to security agencies for election monitoring, and funding of the 2015 presidential election and other political activities.
Reviewing account statements from United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), the witness identified transfers to various beneficiaries. Among them was the Sheikh AbdurRahman Al‑Sudais Foundation, chaired by former Governor Bafarawa, which received ₦500 million. He also mentioned that Abdallah Wali, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Sokoto State in 2015, received ₦580 million through a company for election purposes.
Following the testimony, Justice Halilu adjourned the matter to 9–10 December for cross‑examination of PW2 by defence counsel.
