Yushau A. Shuaib writes on the
recent exposure of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, to disrepute
after the discovery of $43 million in an Ikoyi apartment by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through the whistle blower
policy.
Preparatory
to the daring and merciless military operations against Boko Haram
members, top officers of security and intelligence agencies were in
Lagos and Abuja, towards the end of 2014 to interact with critical
stakeholders that matter in shaping public perception and opinions. The
then President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina was
part of the audience.
The interactive sessions involved the
display of video clips of horrific atrocities of Boko Haram terrorists
against humanity. Gory scenes of brutal executions of captured
intelligence officers who were accused of spying on the terrorists’
group were shown. The officers and their informants were cruelly
dismembered, buried or burnt alive by the dare devil terrorists.
One of the heart-aching videos was that
of a captured female intelligence operative who was “daggered” into
pieces before she could plead for her life. Few months after some
debriefing with the stakeholders, through miraculous strategies of
operations against terrorists, positive images emerged on the gallantry
of Nigerian troops. PRNigeria released some of the declassified videos
on the storming of Sambisa Forest by the special forces and intelligence
operatives from the air and on the ground. The original video showed
hijab-dressed female intelligence operatives, guiding women and children
from the air raid to safe military zone.
DG of the DSS, Lawal Daura (in purple) pictured at an All Progressives Congress, APC, campaign event
There were also reported cases of
captured men dressed in women attire by Nigerian troops who were later
discovered to be security operatives assigned to spy in terrorists’
enclaves. Strangely enough, between January to May 2015, when Sambo
Dasuki was the then National Security Adviser, over two dozen occupied
towns were successfully recovered and liberated from Boko Haram. The
towns were: Abadam, Askira, Baga, Bama, Bara, Buni Yadi, Damboa, Dikwa,
Gamboru-Ngala, Goniri, Gujba, Gulag, Gulani, Gwoza, Hong, Kala Balge,
Konduga, Kukawa, Marte, Madagali, Michika, Monguno, Mubi, Vimtim among
other communities.
Meanwhile, while the military and
security agencies took credit for all counter-terrorism campaigns, most
of the high-profile terrorists arrested, especially at the borders and
across the borders were facilitated by the intelligence service. The
service also facilitated the participations of reluctant neighbours in
Multi-National Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) and other special forces for the
success of operations.
Recently too, when 21 Chibok girls were
freed by Boko Haram in October 2016, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo
publicly disclosed that there was no exchange of detained members of the
Boko Haram sect for the girls. The Information and Culture Minister,
Lai Mohammed also strongly denied the report that Nigerian government
paid a robust ransom for their release. Since no one knows what
influenced the ‘Father Christmas’ gesture of Boko Haram leaders in
releasing the girls which even took a section of the military by
surprise, it is purely exceptional intelligence operations.
This writer has deliberately avoided
mentioning any of Nigeria’s secret organisations on the above
operations. The recent exposure of the National Intelligence Agency
(NIA) to disrepute after the discovery of cash haul in an Ikoyi
apartment is a sad commentary to the one of the most organised, fine and
respected intelligence organisations in Africa. Not only has the
scandal damaged the integrity of the agency, it further exposed the
Nigeria’s intelligence community to global ridicule.
It is necessary to point out that in
security circle, a black budget is allocated for classified and other
covert operations of a nation which can be expended under different
covers and through different channels including funding of NGOs,
cultural groups, religious organisations, corporations, private firms
and on most occasions through cash that could not be traced. Consciously
and unconsciously, patriotic and innocent citizens have supported or
carried out intelligence activities without being identified with the
secret service.
The instrument relating to the
establishment, structure and duties of the National Intelligence Agency,
especially under the National Security Agencies Act 1986 (Cap 278LFN),
clearly states that “The accounts of the National Intelligence Agency
shall not be subject to external audit but the Director General shall by
first week of March each year, render to the President… certificate
showing the total expended during the preceding period and the under
which the expenditure was made and copy the National Security Adviser.”
Similarly, there are repeated keywords
on NIA’s mandates which include: national security, national interest,
employing covert sources, using the cover of government or private
concerns; conduct espionage, covert operations, and counter intelligence
activities.
Even though there are declared staff who
are authorised to disclose their identities, most intelligence
operatives are undeclared and barred from disclosing their identities
but only to close family members and associates. While some live in
opulence for covert assignments, others act beggarly and pretend to be
poor in sensitive terrains.
The intelligence agencies allow other
sister agencies take the credit for successful operations. Most of the
arrested terrorists’ commanders especially at the borders and across the
borders were facilitated by the intelligence service.
The scandal over N13.3 billion recovered
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Osborne
Street, Ikoyi, Lagos is quite embarrassing because the Director General
of NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke has claimed that the fund belonged to the
agency.
The incident is coming at a period of an
intense inter-agency rivalry where security agencies were allegedly
reported to be behind the leakages of classified and confidential
information to smear their perceived oppositions within the same
government.
The above scenario is again playing out
here. Now that NIA has laid claim to the amount found in Ikoyi
apartment, does it mean the EFCC was misled? Is the mysterious
whistle-blower a character in the inter-agency rivalry? Or is it another
counter-intelligence by another foreign secret service against Nigeria?
In a December 2016’s article by this
writer on Magu’s EFCC: ‘Between Suspects and Victims’ I warned that
“President Buhari should ensure that the brewing inter-agency conflict
among critical institutions should be urgently addressed. For instance,
if the EFCC should attempt to retaliate against the report of DSS, the
result will not only be dirty but likely to compromise national
security.”
While the EFCC publicised the discovery,
it has totally failed to disclose the owner. Even the vibrant
spokesperson of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren had to put off his mobile phone
for almost 72 hours during the fracas.
With all fingers pointing to the fact
that the money belongs to NIA, the burden of proof is who is the
mysterious whistle-blower? Could the whistle-blower have acted on behalf
of an agency engaged in the rivalry or was it as major
counter-intelligence operation by foreign interests to expose and
embarrass our intelligence network?
There are many ways of removing public
officers but such attempts should not be done by rubbishing the
integrity of public institutions they represent, especially in Nigeria’s
security architecture.
I strongly believe at this critical
period and with the unabated inter-agency rivalries and the incidence of
leakages of classified information by some agencies of government, the
current National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno should be
wary of these developments. Though a gentleman, he needs to be more
pragmatic, charismatic, assertive and decisive in dealing with erring
agencies.
Yushau A. Shuaib is a former
spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He is the
founder and chief executive of PR Nigeria. He is a PR consultant can be
reached by email HERE. His official website is www.yashuaib.com
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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