Leah Sharibu and ‘negotiation funds diversion’

Last week, the Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG) named one Auwalu Kalamu as the chief culprit in the funds diversion deal, in the negotiation to free the abducted school girls.
Kalamu, according to CACOBAG, is a pseudonym and the character is a top security chief in the nation’s intelligence circles.
In this report, IBRAHEEM MUSA examines the twists and turns as well as the various allegations in the abduction saga
The plot, its execution and the release of the so-called Dapchi girls, unfolded like a well-scripted movie.
Critics, up till this moment, still doubt the abduction saga and this skepticism remains high.
In fact, the feeling hasn’t tapered off, in spite of victims’ testimonies.
On February 19, 2018, Boko Haram insurgents descended on Dapchi, a town in Busari local government of Yobe state.
The terrorists, according to reports, stormed the town around 7pm, shooting sporadically as they came in 18 trucks.
Unchallenged, they headed for Government Girls Science and Technical School, raided the store, loaded food stuff and 110 students into the trucks.
Thereafter, they zoomed off with their captives, leaving fear, anxiety and a manhunt in their wake.
Surreptitiously, a week before the attack, the military had pulled out of Dapchi without notice and in anger, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam had accused them of complicity to the crime.
However, in a statement, the military gave a plausible explanation and passed the buck to the police.
Dapchi, according to them, has been peaceful and on thispremise, the authorities deployed its troops to Kanama, following attacks on the NigeriaNiger border.
Before then, the town was handed over to the police, the military had claimed.
However, almost immediately, the police denied the hand over claim, and asked the public to disregard it.
Expectedly, this back and forth heightened suspicion and largely, it fired up conspiracy theories.
Luckily, as the police and military traded blames, the students were released barely a month after their abduction.
In fact, their release was more dramatic than the kidnapping, especially for its lack of incident or drama.
Home and free On March 21, at about 8am, a convoy of nine trucks sped through Dapchi, stirring a lot of dust, scaring pedestrians and motorists alike.
Later, the vehicles stopped in the middle of town, according to eyewitnesses, and the abducted school girls alighted from the trucks.
Afterwards, the vehicles sped off as fast as they came without firing a shot.
Earlier, security operatives allegedly left their camp, especially to clear way for the returning insurgents.
So, the entire abduction saga, from the withdrawal of troops, to the actual kidnap, including the victims’ quick and safe return, looked too incongruous to be believed.
Money may have changed hands At first, the allegation was made in whispers but later, loud accusations that government paid for the students’ freedom were freely made.
According to the BBC, 2 million Euros was given to the insurgents and in addition, five senior Boko Haram commanders were released in exchange for the Dapchi students’ freedom.
In the same vein, The Telegraph of United Kingdom stated that the way and manner the insurgents dropped off the “school girls unopposed by Nigerian defence forces raised concerns that a cash deal had been struck between the government and terrorists.” Similarly, Mr.
Mba Ekpezu Ukweni, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had made the same claim.
Flatly, the government had denied these claims as Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Information Minister, said that the release was unconditional.
However, about a month ago, an Abuja-based newspaper also alleged that millions of Euros earmarked for the ransom payment to secure the release of other Boko Haram captives, including the rest Chibok girls, have been diverted to private bank accounts.
According to the report, a bank in the Swiss-German principality of Liechtenstein was allegedly used to warehouse the funds.
The deal involved a top Nigerian security chief with an array of accomplices, including a Swiss with dual nationality, a Nigerian/British citizen and an Israeli with German nationality.
Specifically, the report didn’t name names but last week, several newspapers fingered the brain behind the deal.
Who is Auwalu Kalamu? Last week, the Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), in a press conference, named one Auwalu Kalamu as the chief culprit in the funds diversion deal.
Kalamu, according to CACOBAG, is a pseudonym and the character is a top security chief in the Nigerian intelligence circles.
In addition, ‘Kalamu’ is the sole signatory tothe account where the diverted fund is allegedly warehoused.
In particular, CACOBAG Chairman Toyin Raheem, without mincing words, accused the shadowy ‘Kalamu’ of diverting part of money, amounting to over 3 million pounds, meant for securing the release of the school girls.
Already, investigators in other countries, according to Raheem, have started probing the alleged diversion.
Specifically, their intelligence officials raised the red flag, especially on how the suspected proceeds were stashed at Liechtenstein, especially in Lamda Privat Bank, which is located at in the Swiss-German principality, through some accomplices.
Consequently, Israeli police have arrested one of its citizens, according to Raheem, for allegedly corrupting foreign government officials.
In particular, ‘Kalamu’s’ name featured prominently in the report as the Nigerian security chief was named the chief architect of the deal.
Categorically, CACOBAG wants the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), without further delay, to investigate ‘Kalamu’ for pinching from the ransom money.
In addition, the CACOBAG chairman vowed that it “is determined to see that the investigation on this matter is not stalled by any means whatsoever.” According to him, ‘Kalamu’ should be exposed and punished as doing so “will prove to the world our seriousness in the fight against corruption.” Similarly, Raheem warned against sweeping the allegation under the carpet as CACOBAG, according to him, will take all legitimate means to compel EFCC to do its work.
Specifically, he listed litigation, mobilising Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, to embark on peaceful protests.
Like a recurring decimal, the Dapchi abduction is still in the news, five months after the kidnap occurred and four months after the victims regained their freedom.
However, this time, the allegation is about how agents of the state are aiding and abetting enemies of state.