The Department of State Services (DSS) has described as untrue, claims by Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, that an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is involved in legitimising the transfer of funds to Boko Haram and their sponsors.
The service branded the Australian a “self-appointed negotiator”, debunking reports that Davis was appointed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of the abducted Chibok girls.
Citing TheCable’s report of August 31 in which Davis said a CBN official who handled the funding for Boko Haram was an uncle of three of those arrested in connection with the Nyanya bombings, DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, said the claims were untrue.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that of the six suspects in our custody, none is related to another by blood. In other words, none is a cousin or nephew to any other, and only two suspects namely Yau Saidu and Anas Isah have ever lived together at the makeshift clinic called ‘Kishi Clinic” operated by Rufai Abubakr Tsiga, a co-mastermind of the bomb blast who is still at large,” she explained.
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“It may also be recalled that on May 12, 2014, this service paraded the following suspects in connection with the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park: Ahmed Rufai Abubakar (a.k.a. Abu Ibrahim/Maiturare), Muhammadu Sani Ishaq, Yau Saidu (a.k.a. Kotar Rama), Anas Isah, and Adamu yusuf.
“Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche and Rufai Abubakar Tsiga were subsequently declared wanted. Ogwuche was later arrested in Sudan and extradited to Nigeria on July 14, 2014. Further interrogation of suspects in our custody has also revealed that none lived with or has any relationship with any staff of the CBN.”
Ogar emphasised that it was imperative to clarify some information in the media to the contrary.
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“We wish to categorically state that this service is not the source of the information credited to Davis. Meanwhile, further investigation is ongoing on the Nyanya bombings,” she said.
“We wish to seize this opportunity to reiterate once again the commitment of security forces to provide a secure and safe environment for all Nigerians.”
