The army segment of the
$2.1billion arms slush funds has landed 12 top army officers
in trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Three serving major generals, a
retired major general, three brigadier generals, four colonels, and one
lieutenant colonel are being interrogated by the anti-graft agency for their
alleged involvement in the deal.
They were referred to the EFCC
by the army authorities following an internal probe.
A security source familiar with
the development branded it “a monumental fraud” last night.
The source said that from the
evidence already gathered, what transpired in the air force with the arms
procurement fund might turn out to be a child’s play.
“This is the most crucial
aspect of the $2.1billion arms deals because the Nigerian Army was at the
centre of the procurement. The case of the Nigerian Air Force might be a
child’s play.”
Commodore Salisu Yushau, a
retired finance director of the Air Force and prosecution witness in a case of
corruption against former Chief of Defence Staff and one time Chief of Air
Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh told a Federal High Court in Abuja last
Wednesday of how air force money was used to buy choice properties for Badeh’s
sons and how the former Air Force Chief routinely mopped up salaries in excess
of N500m monthly.
Ex-National Security Adviser,
Col. Sambo Dasuki is facing a separate trial for alleged diversion of the $2.1
billion arms procurement fund.
The Army had said those found
guilty of fraud by the EFCC will be tried by a Military Court Martial.
The Acting Director of Army
Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman said in a terse statement that
“However it should be noted that at the end of the commission’s investigations,
those found culpable will be tried by a Military Court Martial.”
Some retired and former
military officers are also under investigation for allegedly diverting a
N5billion vote earmarked for election operation.
The fund was released by the
Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The illegal fund, which was
drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, was allegedly used for personal
service.
Investigations revealed that the N5billion was illegally drawn for the Army from
the CBN by ONSA.
It was learnt another vote was
budgeted for the Army in the 2015 budget for operations leading to duplication
of funds.
Some Army officers were said to
have helped themselves to the N5billion cash since “operation funds” were
regarded as “mere fluid budget.”
A source said: “Some
top Army officers are under probe over N5billion election operation funds from
ONSA. The funds were illegally drawn under curious overhead from CBN.
“But preliminary findings have
indicated that the cash was diverted to personal use. There is no record of
disbursement and utilization.
“Some of the affected officers
have been invited to Abuja. If found guilty of mismanagement of funds and
political indulgence, they might face severe sanctions including dismissal or
retirement.”
About N16.5billion was released
to the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army and ONSA for “logistic
requirement for 2015 elections.”
The breakdown is as follows:
IGP General Election OPS Fund Account (N10billion); Nigerian Air Force OPS
Account (N1billion); Nigerian Army Operations Account (N5billion) and ONSA
(N500million).
THE NATION