Alex Badeh
As part of the ongoing probe of the $2.1billion arms cash, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, for interaction.
Besides equipment and Alpha Jets, Air Chief Marshal Badeh might be quizzed today on the spending of N330.75million on uniforms for the Armed Forces.
A source close to Air Chief Marshal Badeh said the ex-CDS, who got the invitation on Monday, is ready for the EFCC interrogators because he has nothing to hide.
If Air Chief Marshal Badeh honours the EFCC’s invitation, he will become the fourth to be quizzed among the 17 former and serving military officers recommended for investigation.
Those detained are former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki; Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-NSA; and a former Chief of Air Staff, A.N. Amosu.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have invited Badeh, we expect him to come and makeclarifications on procurement of equipment during his tenure.
“He has advantage because he was Chief of Air Staff before his elevation to the CDS. So, he will be of assistance to the probe by this commission.
“The breaches identified by the Audit Committee include non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
“Furthermore, the procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and generally characterised by irregularities and fraud. In many cases, the procured items failed to meet the purposes they were procured for, especially the counter insurgency efforts in the North East.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “Apart from equipment, Badeh may respond to a few issues on the purchase of uniforms for the Armed Forces.
“The immediate past NSA said on November 26, 2014, that Badeh sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform(in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs.
“The coming of Badeh will set the stage for interaction with other military top shots.”
Others are Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal M.D. Umar; the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu(the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM JA Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings)four top officers at the Defence Headquarters(DHQ), Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi; Air Cdre GMD Gwani; Air Cdre SO Makinde; and Air Cdre AY Lassa
Some of the areas of investigation are as follows:
- How 10 contracts totalling $930,500,690.00 were awarded
- Payment of N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts
- Procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00.
- Four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA
- Cannibalisation of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets
- Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one
- Delivery of radars without vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft
- Transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited owned by some Air Force officers
- N15bn lavished on the maintenance of Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.
- N2.5billion contracts awarded to Syrius Technologies( Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria
- Award of seven contracts at N599,118,000.00 to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria(DICON). Only two delivered
Policemen have vacated the office of ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo.
A source close to the ex-VP said:”The EFCC siege to the office of the former Vice President has ended with the withdrawal of the policemen deployed since Saturday.
“Some of the broken doors have been fixed and managers and employees now have access to the office.
“Sambo is weighing options on whether to seek redress in court.”
Source: THE NATION