How Former President Jonathan Failed To Shield Ex-ministers From Probe

Former President Goodluck Jonathan may have failed in his bid to shield some of his former aides and ministers from being probed.

It was learnt that the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar Peace Committee has been unable to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari with whom Dr. Jonathan would like the committee to put in a world.

Jonathan had anticipated a peace session between him and the President at the instance of the Abdulsalami Committee, which played a major role in ensuring peace during the general elections.

Gen. Abdulsalami was said to have tried to reach out to the President about five times but state duties did not allow a meeting.

Jonathan, who arrived in the country about a week ago, is said to be worried about the fate of his former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and detention of his ex-Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Gordon Obuah.

There were reports yesterday that his former Aide-de-Camp, and later Chief Personal Security Officer, Mr. Moses Jitoboh, had been picked up by security agents, but The Nation could not confirm this.

Initially, the arrest of Jitoboh was linked to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but a source in the anti-graft agency denied knowledge of such.

Many of Jonathan’s ministers have relocated abroad.

According to sources, Buhari has decided not to compromise his focus to “retrieve” ill-gotten wealth from some top officials in Jonathan’s administration.

A source said: “Jonathan had approached the Abdulsalami Committee to intervene and prevail on Buhari to stop scandalising his administration and haunting his former aides/ ex-ministers.

“Jonathan has been saying that Buhari’s attitude so far was not yet in line with the peace agreement the two leaders entered into before the 2015 general elections.

“But the committee members, especially Abdulsalami, have not been able to have audience with the President due to the President’s tight state duties or commitments.

“The President hosted ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to a dinner to break the Ramadan fast. But the two leaders could not talk much on the state of the nation as Obasanjo insisted on going back to Abeokuta at 9pm, The Nation learnt.

“So, Jonathan has really run into a brick wall in his plans to seek soft-landing for some of his aides and ex-ministers,” the source said.

The pre-election agreement between Buhari and Jonathan does not cover shielding corrupt suspects from prosecution, the source added.