The former national security adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, is currently standing trial for allegedly stealing $2.2 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military.

He was said to have diverted the money into the presidential campaign of former president and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.Dasuki was arrested by the State Security Service last year and has been in detention since December 1, 2015.

The scandal which has been dubbed Dasukigate has seen dozens of Jonathan's aides and PDP members arrested for partaking in the sharing of the money.

Some have admitted collecting such monies from Dasuki. While some linked to the arms deal scam have refunded part of the loots, some others are pledging to return theirs.

It came as a surprise to many when Jonathan said he does not believe Dasuki stole $2.2billion. He said this on Monday, October 24, while answering questions after his lecture on youth entrepreneurship at the famous Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.

"They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2billion. I don't believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion," he said.

What could have been Jonathan's reason for defending Dasuki?

1. It would reflect badly on his government

Jonathan cannot believe Dasuki stole $2.2billion because it would reflect badly on his administration which it has already done. The arms deal money, $2.2bn, is not a small money. That money would go a long way to help Nigeria's ailing economy. It's just hard to believe that one man stole such an amount right under his nose. It's just too much for only one man. If he believes Dasuki stole such amount, it could be interpreted as him telling the world his administration was corrupt. Instead of making life better for the people, he allowed some people to loot the nation's treasury, subjecting the masses to poverty and hardship.

2. He would be indicting himself

If Jonathan believes Dasuki diverted the arms deal money, he would be indicting himself. The money was diverted during his administration, right under his nose. Is it possible for that amount of money to have left the nation's treasury without the president's approval? Most of his aides are already being probed. However, Buhari's government is not probing Jonathan yet though, some want him to be arrested alongside his aides.

3. His administration fought corruption in its own way

The former president said his administration did not tolerate corrupt practices contrary to reports making rounds. According to him, his government fought corruption without making it a public. So, how is it possible that such huge amount would have stolen by one person in an administration that fought corruption? It's hard for Jonathan to believe that while he was fighting corruption, someone was diverting $2.2bn.

4. Allegations about the $2.2 billion arms deal scam was faulty

Jonathan said his administration bought a lot of equipment for the military during the period so, where could Dasuki have seen that amount of money to steal?

"We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army, and so on and so forth; and you are still saying $2.2 billion. So, where did we get the money to buy all those things?" the ex-president queried.

Jonathan had in January said President Muhammadu Buhari administration was prosecuting the war against the Boko Haram insurgency with the arms his administration procured. He attributed the successes in the war against insurgency to the weapons he bought before leaving office.

In reaction, the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Jonathan purchased substandard weapons to prosecute the war against Boko Haram. He added that such substandard weapons could not have been responsible for the victory against insurgency.

5. The corruption cases are overblown

The ex-president is of the opinion that the war against corruption is overblown.

"Yes, there were some issues. Yes, there are still corruption issues but some of it were over blown. I would say they exaggerated, and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the National Security Adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible," Jonathan said.

6. His government never awarded any contract in the range of $2bn

Jonathan said his government never awarded any contract in the range of $2 billion dollars for arms procurement. So, which money are they probing Dasuki for?

Speaking sometime in December 2015, he said: "I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons. Where did the money come from?"

If Jonathan did not award such contract, why would he believe Dasuki stole $2.2 billion? Where did this money come from? Nigerians want to know.

7. The evidence against Dasuki are not circumstantial

There have been reports that most of the culprits have admitted collecting money from Dasuki. Some are even said to have returned their part of the loot but it's all hearsay. For Jonathan to believe Dasuki stole $2.2billion, he would need more than hearsay.

8. Dasuki did not steal the money

The former NSA did not steal the money. He just simply used it for something else other than the purchase of arms which it was meant for. So, when they say Dasuki stole money, he can't believe it because he didn't really steal it but used it for something else.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/8-suspicious-reasons-jonathan-does-not-believe-dasuki-stole-2-2bn/