Tanko Yakasai may not be returning the funds obtained from the office of the National Security Adviser because the money was given for an assignment which he had successfully carried out.
Tanko Yakasai
A former presidential adviser in the Second Republic, Tanko Yakasai, on Wednesday explained why he would not return the money he collected from the former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Anenih.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is currently investigating the alleged diversion of funds by the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for campaign activities of the PDP.
Mr. Yakasai, an octogenarian, was reportedly implicated by Mr. Anenih for receiving N53 million of the N250million he (Anenih) allegedly received from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Mr. Yakasai, who said the question of asking him to return the money does not arise. He however said he collected only N53million from the party chieftain. He told PREMIUM TIMES on telephone that he had not committed any crime as the money given to him was not meant for his personal use.
“I think your questions of whether I will return the money is like jumping the gun, because at the first instance nobody gave me the money on my personal capacity. As I told you, the money is for that group.
“And we had, as part of the assignment, visited Borno and Yobe and even met with two traditional leaders. So we have carried out our assignment diligently.
“I am ready at any given time to respond to invitation by the EFCC. I am ready to clear my name,” he said.
He explained that the money given to him was for a group of nine people mandated to carry out a “national assignment” towards a peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
Mr. Yakasai added that he had not committed any crime and there were no criminal tendencies in their action whatsoever.