The National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi, was visiting some friends and government colleagues in Abuja that night in early 2012.
He was shocked to learn from one of his hosts that his Nigerian Defence Academy classmate and a junior colleague had dropped his name in a alleged plan to steal billions from government coffers without his consent.
He was understandably furious. And he immediately decided to block the deal and then deal with the man at the centre of the deal.
“He just decided on the spot to cancel the entire transaction and forbid anybody from it (buying the K38 boats),” Mr. Hassan, who was closed to Mr. Azazi at the time, recalled.
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A shrewd and desperate contractor that he is, Mr. Hassan frantically begged the NSA to shift ground.
After prolonged appeal by the contractor, Mr. Azazi softened. A new plan was immediately hatched.
Rather than have Mr. Atawodi and PICOMSS buy the boats, Mr. Azazi offered to use his position as NSA to purchase the boats for the Nigerian army as “his contribution” to an organisation he served for decades and only recently retired from.
“This was a very good ending for me and very neat for Azazi who was no saint,” Mr. Hassan said.
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