| Gen. Ihejirika |
| Gen. Minimah |
The Presidential Committee on
Defence Equipment Procurement in the Nigerian Armed Forces has extended
its investigations to the tenure of three former Chiefs of Army Staff
(COAS) – Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and
Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah. Airhiavbere, Muraina, Bassey, Kitchener, Ugwu,
Akinyemi, others summoned.
The panel has summoned over 292
serving and retired top officers who worked with the three former Army
chiefs.
It said it was in line with its
mandate to look into procurement of arms, ammunition and equipment from 2007 to
2015.
The committee has also asked
more than 10 local and foreign companies to appear before it. They include the
Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Procurement overheads to be
probed include ammunition for Darfur operation, supply of training kits and
equipment; purchase of 16MG and 29 RPG and 10Grenade Launchers; repair of seven
assault craft; repair service and upgrade of 29 Suncraft ; purchase of 15
Freefall Parachutes; buying of MRAP vehicles with maintenace containers; order
of Radio Technologies Equipment; purchase of 10 APCs by DICON; 51 GPMG and
sustenance of Operation Zaman Lafiya; emergency procurement of Combat Equipment
for Ongoing Ops; Operation Internal Security; Quick Response Group and Forward
Operation Bases; HE Type Mortal and purchase of Bullet Proof Vests.
Some of the retired officers
invited are former Commander of the Army Finance Corps, Maj-Gen Charles Ehigie
Airhiavbere (the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate
in Edo State; former Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Lagos ,
Maj.-Gen. Olayemi Abidoye; ex-Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters,
Major General E. E. Bassey; former General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured
Division, Major General Jack Okechukwu Nwaogbo; former Chief of Training and
Operations, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Major General M.A. Yerima; former Chief
of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters, Major General O Akinyemi; former
Commandant, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps (NAOC)Major-General A. A. Martins;
ex-GOC 3 Amoured Div, Maj.Gen. AB Marwa; and former Chief of Policy and Plans
at Army headquarters, Major General A. Atofarati.