The Department of State Security, DSS, had in 2014 cleared former Governor
of Borno State and current Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
Ali Modu Sheriff, of allegation that he is one of the sponsors of Boko
Haram, according to a Press Statement obtained by pointblanknews.com
Modu Sheriff’s emergence as National Chairman of the PDP is currently
generating a heated controversy within the Party with splinter groups
calling for his resignation.
The embattled PDP Chairman has equally threatened legal action against
anyone linking him with Boko Haram.
However, in a statement signed and released by erstwhile spokesperson,
Maryln Ogar, the secret police said it thoroughly investigated Modu
Sheriff and others when Steven Davis, the Australian self-styled Boko
Haram negotiator had alleged that the former Borno Governor and other
elites are sponsors of the sect.
According to the DSS, arrested persons linked with Davis, confessed that
they had lied against Modu Sheriff in linking him with the sponsorship of
Boko Haram.
The Statement from the DSS released in December 2014 and obtained by
Pointblanknews.com reads:
PRESS BRIEFING
Recall that on 29th August 2014, one Steven DAVIS, an Australian
Self-styled negotiator for the Boko Haram sect had alleged that Ali Modu
SHERIFF (Sen) and Azubuike IHEJIRIKA (Lt.Gen/rtd), former Governor of
Borno State and former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) respectively were among
chief sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. DAVIS premised his ‘findings’ on
discussions with several field commanders of the Sect who allegedly
expressed willingness of the sect to negotiate with the Federal Government
if DAVIS would spearhead such dialogue. To buttress this, he posted a
photograph of himself taken in 2013 with some alleged Sect Members.
2. Based on the allegation, this Service initiated an in-depth
investigation into the matter. Consequently, seven (7) associates of DAVIS
were arrested and it has been established that they were part of a well
orchestrated plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit efforts of
government to end terrorism.
Those arrested are:
i.Junaid Idrissa KHADI;
ii.Abubakar YUSUF (a.k.a Baba Sani);
iii.Saleh Alhaji IBRAHIM (a.k.a Liman IBRAHIM);
iv.Abdullahi SALEH (a.k.a Babadale);
v.Nurudeen IBRAHIM;
vi.Mubarak ADAMU (a.k.a. Molo); and
vii.Mustapha MAIDUGU ( a.k.a. Musty/Small)
JUNAID IDRISSA KHADI
3. KHADI is a 45 year old Kanuri man from Borno State. He was an aide to
Borno State Governor, Kasim SHETTIMA. He confessed to the following;
that he has known DAVIS since 2006;
that he introduced one Aisha WAKIL (Barr/F) to DAVIS as a credible link9
to top members of the Boko Haram sect;
That he and one General ASHAFA went with DAVIS on a journey to a remote
part of Marte LGA, Borno State, on a false mission to rescue the abducted
Chibok school girls.
That he deliberately conspired to blackmail and implicate Ali Modu
SHERIFF (Sen), former Governor of Borno State and one Mala OTHMAN, former
State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as sponsors of the
Boko Haram sect. This he said he did by mounting pressure on the fake
Boko Haram Commanders, particularly Abubakar YUSUF (a.k.a Baba Sani) to
affirm that SHERIFF was indeed a sponsor. A claim that would give weight
to their own scam and compel the Federal Government to negotiate with the
fraudulent group. However, when the attempt failed, he sold the idea
directly to DAVIS;
That DAVIS single handedly conjured the indictment on IHEJIRIKA based on
allegations that the Military under the former COAS was responsible for
the several failed attempts by DAVIS to make contact with the Presidency;
He denied ever discussing with DAVIS that IHEJIRIKA (Lt. Gen/Rtd) was a
Boko Haram sponsor. He stressed that at no time during their interactions
were such allegations made against IHEJIRIKA (Lt.Gen/Rtd) and wondered
why this should arise.
That he organized several meetings between the purported Boko Haram
Commanders and DAVIS in Abuja and was privy to a YouTube video, an
interview on Voice of America (VOA) and he (KHADI) also used DAVIS’
Camera to capture snapshots of DAVIS in a group photograph with some fake
commanders of the sect;
ABUBAKAR YUSUF (a.k.a Baba Sani)
4. YUSUF is 30 years old, from the Babur tribe in Biu LGA, Borno State.
Until his arrest, he was a petty trader at Makama New Extension, Bauchi
State. YUSUF was actively involved in the Boko Haram insurrection of 2009
as an armed foot soldier as well as a paramedic for the sect. He escaped
from Maiduguri to Askira-Uba in Borno State and thereafter relocated to
Bauchi metropolis, where he was eventually arrested. The following has
been established against YUSUF:
i.YUSUF was amongst those presented by Aisha WAKIL (Barr/F) to Borno
State Governor between 2011 and 2012 as representatives who would
negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis;
ii.In February, 2013, YUSUF was introduced to DAVIS by Aisha WAKIL as a
top-ranking Boko Haram member, who could facilitate DAVIS’ contact with
the sect’s leadership even though she knew he was incapable;
iii.YUSUF co-opted and presented Saleh Alhaji IBRAHIM, Abdullahi SALEH,
Nurudeen IBRAHIM and Mubarak ADAMU to DAVIS as the sect’s Amirul Jeish
(Grand Commanders). He also introduced one Yakubu KAUMI (Late Abu ZAMIRA)
as a spokesperson for the sect;
iv.YUSUF and some of the suspects mentioned above were part of the
YouTube video, VOA interview and also appeared in the group photograph
with DAVIS;
v.YUSUF confessed to have made about four million Naira (N4m) from fake
Boko Haram negotiations.
SALEH IBRAHIM (a.k.a. Liman IBRAHIM)
6. IBRAHIM is a 35 year old indigene of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council
(MMC), Borno State. Until his arrest, he was a casual staff of Borno
Radio Television (BRTV). He confessed to have joined the Boko Haram sect
in 2003 and remained an ardent follower of late Mohammed YUSUF until 2005
when he quit the sect to join BRTV. While in the sect, he was a member of
the Taskforce Committee on Vehicle Parking at Markaz, the sect’s enclave
in Maiduguri.
7. He confessed to the following:
i.That in 2013 he participated in a Government sponsored dialogue with
the Boko Haram sect, and he was presented to the Amb. Hassan TUKUR and
Tanimu TURAKI-led Committees as a top member of the sect’s Shura Council,
a claim which was false;
ii.That he and a few other persons granted an interview to the VOA and
spoke extensively on the bogus Boko Haram ceasefire with the Federal
Government;
iii. That KHADI paid him three hundred thousand Naira (N300,000) for his
role in the mischievous media campaign;
ABDULLAHI SALEH (a.k.a. Abu Adam Maisandari)
7. SALEH who claims to be between 28 and 30 years old is a Fulani
indigene of Yola South LGA, Adamawa State. He also claims to be a 100
level student of Accounting at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
(ATBU), Bauchi State. He confessed to the following:
In August 2013, YUSUF introduced him with the alias Abu Adam Maisandari
to DAVIS, WAKIL, KHADI, and the Tanimu TURAKI-led Presidential Committee
on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the
North-East;
He participated in the group’s meetings with the TURAKI-led committee and
was among the purported sect commanders who were interviewed by the VOA;
He confessed to have made a total of one hundred and fifty thousand Naira
(N150,000) from fake dealings with DAVIS and the TURAKI and TUKUR-led
committees.
NURUDEEN IBRAHIM
8. IBRAHIM is 22 years old from Pali village, Alkaleri LGA in Bauchi
State. He was introduced to YUSUF by his friend, Mubarak ADAMU. Upon his
recruitment into the purported Boko Haram commanders’ group, he was
introduced to DAVIS as well as the TURAKI-led committee as a
representative of Abu ZAMIRA. He confessed to the following:
That he participated in various meetings with the TURAKI-led committee,
the VOA interview, featured in the YouTube video and was one of the
hooded gang members in the group photograph with DAVIS;
That his financial gains from the fake project with DAVIS and YUSUF’s
groups amounted to about sixty-two thousand naira (N62,000).
MUBARAK ADAMU (a.k.a. Molo)
9. ADAMU is a 20 year old indigene of Darazo LGA, Bauchi State. He first
came in contact with YUSUF in 2010 and was also subsequently introduced
to DAVIS and the TURAKI-led Committee. He confessed that:
He participated in the YouTube video, and was one of the hooded persons
in a group photograph with DAVIS. According to him, he made a total of
fifty-five thousand (N55, 000) from his participation in the scam.
MUSTAPHA MAIDUGU (a.k.a. Musty/Small)
10. MAIDUGU is a 35 year old Kanuri man from Yusufari LGA, Yobe State.
Until his arrest, he resided at Shehuri North in Maiduguri, Borno State.
MAIDUGU was a Technical Officer with the Estate Department of Yusufari
LGA, Yobe State as well as the Secretary of Shehuri North Community
Development and Youth Empowerment Association (SNCDYEA).
11. He confessed to the following:
i.That he was linked to DAVIS by Saleh IBRAHIM through phone;
ii.That DAVIS facilitated his getting an ad-hoc job with UNICEF, which
bordered on providing psychological support to victims of the Boko Haram
insurgency;
iii.That DAVIS tasked him with secretly recording the ordeal of female
victims who allegedly escaped Boko Haram captivity. His fabrications were
published by DAVIS under the widely circulated news headline, “160 Days
after Chibok Abduction: Girls tell how they were raped every day –
Negotiator Steven DAVIS”;
iv.That he sent a copy of the Gaji GALTIMARI (Amb.) led Presidential
Fact-Finding Committee Report to DAVIS, to which he received a reply via
text message from DAVIS that read, “It is getting hotter for Sheriff now”;
v.In all, MAIDUGU received the sum of two hundred and seventy two thousand
Naira (N272, 000) and a laptop for working for DAVIS.
11. It is necessary to state here that DAVIS and his cohorts are among
several other local and international groups who are out to make
merchandize of the Boko Haram insurgency through concocted and fabricated
stories. These subversive campaigns are also aimed at permeating and
shaping political discourse as well as challenge the integrity of our
National security and stir discontent amongst Nigerians and our esteemed
allies in the war against terror.
12. We want to reiterate once more, that this Service is committed to
bringing to justice all who sponsor or partake in the publication of
subversive reports against this country. We shall not rest on our oars
until our country is rid of all unwholesome activities.
13. Thank you and God bless. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Marilyn OGAR, msi
Deputy Director, Public Relations
Department of State Services, Abuja
10th December, 2014​