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Sambo, Ex-VP, Received N20m Stipends Monthly from Dasuki
Ibrahim Idris Wambai, the former Accounts Officer II, has revealed that that the Office of Nigeria’s former Vice President Namadi Sambo was on a monthly stipend of N20million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) led by former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
He pointed out that some presidential aides also benefitted from slush funds from the ONSA, singling out five firms which were used as platforms by some people to receive funds from the office.
According to PM News, many prominent Nigerians and leaders similarly drew huge funds from the office.
Records of all cash payments to such individuals and organisations are still intact, he said in a Statement of Witness/Accused Person which was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and obtained by The Nations newspaper.
The certified statement on oath is part of the Proof of Evidence for the trial of nine suspects next week.
He said: “In December 2014, I took cash of N4million to Col. Madaki(rtd) in his residence in Wuse II Abuja. I had made many cash payments to Doyin Okupe, Ahmad Idris (PA to ex-NSA), ADC to former First Lady Patience Jonathan as payments for monthly operation allowances.
“The documents showing evidence of the payments are in the office of Yazidu Ibrahim in cash payment files. The exact amounts paid and date of payments I cannot remember but are available in the files.
“The venue for the collection of the money was my office and the money was given to me from the cash in the strong room.
“So many cash payments were made on a monthly basis to the following beneficiaries: Office of the former Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo (N20,000,000). The money was being collected by former Deputy Chief of Staff; ADC to former President (amount not known but in cash payment files; Chief Personal physician to former President Goodluck Jonathan; former coordinator on anti-terrorism, Gen. Sarkin Yaki; former Director PC4, Gen. Terba Waya (rtd); Personal Assistant, Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The amounts and frequency of payments to the beneficiaries as well as the list of other beneficiaries are in the cash payment files
“I also witnessed several payments in cash to various people. Prominent was about payment of N300million to former Chairman on Security and Intelligence, Dr. Bello Matawalle from the cash in the strong room.
“To get details of cash payments in Naira and individuals and organizations summary and vouchers from January 2011 to July 2015, the documents are kept in Yazidu Ibrahim’s former office. These should be collected from the Director of Finance and Administration, Col. Jafaru Mohammed. I and Yazidu Ibrahim can supply the files and the summary.”
He named five firms allegedly used for curious transfers from the ONSA.
His words: “The amounts of the five companies are ACACIA Holdings Limited (N600,000,000) via account no. 1017330319 with UBA and N650million via account no. 0122012650 with ECOBANK Nigeria Limited; Reliance Referral Hospital Limited (N750m) via account no.2022394057 with First Bank Nigeria Plc; Jabbama Global Nigeria Limited(N400m) via account no. 1013898095 with Zenith Bank; Continental Development etc.”
Meanwhile, ex-Minister of State for Finance, ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir Attahiru and Dalhatu Investment Limited may have to account for over N18.09billion when their trial begins next week.
Part of the cash was for PDP’s ‘Operation Capture North West’.
The cumulative cash does not include the $9.809m allegedly collected by ex-Minister of State Yuguda from ONSA between December 23, 2014 and February 10, 2015.
According to the charge sheet filed by EFCC, the suspects benefited from the said funds between April 14, 2014 and May 7, 2015.
Some of the charges are : “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser between 14th April and 7th May 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N3.350billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with the CBN, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties when you transferred same to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa between 14th April 2014 and 7th May 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly received stolen property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N3.350billion with UBA Plc from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), which belonged to the Federal Government of Nigeria and knowing the said sum to be stolen property but purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa between 14th April 2014 and 7th May 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knew that an aggregate sum of N3.350billion directly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and Shuaibu Salisu who were National Security Adviser and the Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser respectively ( to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount) had possession of the said property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 20th December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: N500million being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with Skye Bank Plc, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bashir Yuguda whilst being the Minister of State for Finance between 5th February and 16th April 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N1.1billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the account of Jabbama Ada Global Services Nigeria Limited for the purpose of financing the campaign of PDP in the 2015 general election and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you, Bashir Yuguda whilst being Minister of State for Finance between 23rd December 2014 and 10th February, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: an aggregate sum of $9,809,619 which was an equivalent of the aggregate sum of N1,950,000 belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was transferred to Jabbama Ada Global Services to be converted into the said dollars and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, between August 2013 and February 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: an aggregate sum of N1.675billion belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria which sum was transferred to the account of Vibrant Resources Limited controlled by Abubakar Dasuki, the younger brother of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, the then National Security Adviser and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bashir Yuguda whilst being the Minister of State for Finance between 14th April 2014 and 7th May, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed to do an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of an aggregate sum of N5,050b being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with CBN and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Bashir Yuguda, Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa between 2013 and 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed to do an illegal act to wit: dishonestly receiving stolen property to wit: an aggregate sum of N4.633b being part of the funds in the accounts of the ONSA and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, has urged Nigeria to move decisively beyond importing technology to manufacturing it locally, warning that sustained dependence on foreign technology weakens the country’s industrial base and constrains job creation in the digital economy.
Speaking at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, Okonjo-Iweala said the current disruption of the global order, driven by technology, geopolitics and climate pressures, presents both serious risks and unprecedented opportunities for Nigeria and Africa, if they are prepared to act strategically.
“It is always a pleasure to come home to Nigeria, but it is particularly special to be here at one of the country’s most important seats of learning,” she said, stressing that universities such as ABU must remain central to Africa’s technological, industrial and economic transformation.
Tracing Nigeria’s post-independence journey, Okonjo-Iweala recalled that at independence in 1960, the country had only one degree-awarding institution, making the rapid expansion of universities a critical pillar of nation-building.
She noted that institutions such as ABU laid the foundation for Nigeria’s scientific, technological and entrepreneurial capacity.
Founded in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria, ABU has evolved into a multidisciplinary institution producing graduates across engineering, medicine, sciences, ICT, public administration and the humanities.
“Research conducted here has advanced the frontier of knowledge and offered practical solutions to real-world problems, from animal feed innovations during dry seasons to wind power generation in rural areas,” she said.
Turning to global trends, the WTO chief identified technology, particularly the internet and artificial intelligence, AI, as one of the most disruptive forces reshaping trade, production and employment worldwide.
“The technological shift we are experiencing has made it easier to communicate, produce and trade, but not everyone has shared equally in the gains,” she said, warning that automation and AI could deepen inequality if not properly managed.
She stressed that multilateral institutions and global trade rules must evolve to respond to emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.
“We need a new kind of multilateralism, one that is nimble, responsive and capable of addressing new global opportunities,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala said Africa stands to benefit from what the WTO now describes as “re-globalisation”, the diversification of global supply chains away from over-dependence on a few countries.
She identified opportunities in labour-intensive manufacturing, critical minerals processing, renewable energy technology, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and electric vehicle, EV, supply chains.
“Africa has the capacity to process its critical minerals all the way to EV battery manufacturing,” she said, pointing to Nigeria’s emerging lithium processing investments and vast renewable energy potential.
Reinforcing her call for local technology production, she said Nigeria must stop importing technologies it can manufacture domestically.
“Instead of importing solar panels, we should be manufacturing them here. That is how we create jobs, build resilience and grow our economy,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala warned that Nigeria’s projected economic growth of 4.4 percent remains insufficient once population growth is factored in, calling for sustained growth of 6 to 7 per cent driven by productivity, technology and value addition.
She said achieving this would require strong digital infrastructure, skills development and innovation-friendly policies, alongside full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA.
“Technology-enabled trade and deeper regional integration could increase intra-African trade by up to 45 per cent and lift millions of people out of poverty,” she said.
With Africa projected to account for about 25 per cent of the global working-age population by 2050, Okonjo-Iweala described Nigeria’s young population as one of its greatest technology assets.
“On an ageing planet, Africa’s youth represent the world’s future talent pool,” she said, urging universities, policymakers and the private sector to better align education, innovation and industrial strategy.
She, therefore, called for stronger collaboration between academia, industry and government to ensure Nigeria does not miss the opportunities created by global technological disruption.
“This country has what it takes. What we need is urgency, coordination and the courage to invest in our people and our ideas,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
Stanley Amandi, veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker, has been arrested by the Nigerian military over his alleged role in a foiled coup plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government, according to an exclusive report by Premium Times.
Stanley Amandi, Nollywood Actor
The filmmaker, also a former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Enugu State chapter, was reportedly detained in September 2025 alongside several military officers accused of planning a violent overthrow, including potential assassinations of top officials, according to the newspaper’s sources.
Reports indicated that the coup plotters planned to wholesale assassination of top government officials including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among others.
On Monday, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the plan to illegally oust the Tinubu administration, saying the indicted officers will be arraigned before military judicial panels.
In its statement, the Defence Headquarters said the investigation has been completed and forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
According to the military, the investigation was “comprehensive” and conducted in line with established procedures, examining “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.”
The military disclosed that the findings identified “a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing such conduct as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
Mr Amandi has featured in many Nollywood movies and is known for his work as an actor, production manager and director.
His notable works include “The Album,” where he served as director; “Tiger King,” where he also served as director and produced in 2008; “Cornerstone,” produced in 2019; and “Once Upon a Dream,” in which he appeared as an actor in 2024.
Mr Amandi’s last Instagram post was on 19 September 2025, shortly before his arrest.
AfricAI and Micropolis Robotics have signed a multi-year exclusive distribution and deployment agreement, which marks one of the continent’s most significant robotics market entries.
Micropolis AI Robotics is a United Arab Emirates-based robotics manufacturer operating in autonomous systems, while AfricAI is a company building practical, revenue-driven artificial intelligence (AI) systems for African businesses, governments, and global partners operating in emerging markets.
According to the agreement, Micropolis Robotics named AfricAI as its exclusive continental partner, prohibiting direct sales, alternative distributors, and third-party agents from operating in the territory.
The partnership establishes AfricAI as the primary execution, localisation, and go-to-market platform for intelligent robotics in Africa’s industrial, security, logistics, and infrastructure sectors.
AfricAI said this exclusive mandate positions the company as the gateway for advanced autonomous systems entering African markets, ensuring regulatory compliance, local capacity building, and sovereign control over deployment frameworks.
The partnership, according to the two parties, moves beyond software- based AI into the realm of physical AI — intelligent machines capable of operating in complex, real-world African environments.
“This is not a collaboration, it is a market-shaping mandate,” said Fareed Aljawhari, CEO of Micropolis Robotics. “AfricAI now represents the exclusive gateway through which Micropolis technologies enter Africa. Their sovereign AI vision, operational reach, and regulatory fluency make them the only partner capable of executing at a continental scale.
Furthermore, the agreement enables AfricAI to integrate Micropolis’ autonomous robotics systems with AfricAI’s sovereign AI stack, resulting in AI-powered security and surveillance platforms, robotics-enabled logistics and port operations, industrial automation, smart infrastructure, and municipal robotics tailored to African operating conditions.
Initial deployments will commence in security, smart infrastructure, and logistics, with phased expansion across multiple African states as part of AfricAI’s broader continental AI, data, and intelligent infrastructure strategy.
The agreement also includes long-term performance-linked expansion rights, automatic renewals, and a defined localisation framework to support robotics deployment, workforce training, and skills transfer across Africa.
Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim, executive chairman of AfricAI, said: “Africa does not need imported automation — it needs sovereign, context-aware intelligent systems. This exclusive mandate allows AfricAI to industrialise robotics deployment at scale while retaining control, compliance, and value creation on the continent.”
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