A former Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Chief Ayo Opadokun, has dismissed allegations that the late former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu was involved in the Halliburton bribery scandal.
He said this yesterday in Abuja at a memorial symposium and presentation of books in honour of the late elder statesman.
Opadokun, who wrote the late Yusufu’s only biography, ‘Aristocratic Rebel’, explained that the former IG did not amass wealth when he was in service, noting that he had no house in Abuja and that the deceased police boss did not benefit from the bribes as being insinuated, but rather used his personal resources to help many Nigerians.
“I have seen him (being) out of pocket. He would never give any indication that he is hard up. It was wicked for anybody to say he benefitted from the Halliburton scandal. As Chairman of the NLNG, the man who brought him to the company is here, Lt. Gen. Gusau. Many years after, because he (Yusufu) needed some money, he stayed beyond his time in London and they gave him $50,000 and some people said that is part of Halliburton bribes. It is wicked,” Opadokun said.
According to him Yusufu tried to prevent the crisis that followed the annulment of June 12, 1993 elections, but that his plan failed because some individuals in the South-West bungled it.
The Chairman of the Abdullahi Smith Centre for Historical Research, Zaria, Prof Ahmed Mohammed, in his welcome address, said Yusufu was the pioneer chairman of the centre, which was named after his friend and associate.
He said Yusufu, who died in April 2015, funded, almost entirely the on-going new building of the centre, which include 90-room researchers’ accommodation, conference centre, meeting rooms, and restaurant.
The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, and the first DG of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and former DG of Department of Security Service (DSS), Albert Horsfall, extolled the virtues of the late Yusufu and urged his emulation by all Nigerians.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
