The Defence Headquarters has made it clear that a few of its officers implicated in the ongoing arms deal saga involving a former NSA will be made to face the law and handed over for prosecution.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has made it clear that any military officer found culpable in the ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase must face the interrogation and prosecution by anti-graft agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ThisDay reports.
This was made clear by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, who stated that a senior officer and military attaché of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and his predecessor, the late General Andrew Azazi, had been implicated in the misappropriation of funds in the Office of the NSA.
It was reported recently that a high-ranking military officer of the rank of colonel, was in charge of the procurement of arms.
According to the report, the senior army officer has been in EFCC’s custody for over one week, raising questions as to whether the EFCC, which is headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), is empowered to detain a serving senior military officer.
However, when contacted, Abubakar said the military would release any officer with questions to answer to face either the Presidential Arms Probe Committee, EFCC, or any other related agencies, if that will assist in the ongoing war against terror.
Though he could not confirm if any officer(s) was arrested, he added that the DHQ would not stand in the way of the law.
He said: “I am not a member of the committee investigating the arms procurement. However, corruption is not a good thing for any country that hopes to develop and carry out fundamental duties of governance. It is a disease that requires the collective effort of good citizens to eradicate.
“The issue of arresting an officer involved, I don't have such information, but I believe anybody, either soldier or civilian, found wanting can be invited by the committee because this is a national revival for the betterment of our nation.
“More so, no body is above the law. The military like any segment of the society operates within the law. So whoever acts outside the law must be held accountable to move our country forward.”
His remarks came on the heels of revelations that the EFCC had written to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, to release some senior serving military officers linked to the arms deal for interrogation, a senior staff of the anti-graft agency told THISDAY last night in Abuja.
The letter, which was copied to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and other services chiefs, was said to have been delivered to them recently.
“We are entering a critical stage of our ongoing investigation — to dig up how billions of dollars voted for the purchase of arms to prosecute the terrorism war were diverted for personal use,’’ the EFCC source stated.
“Apart from the ongoing trial of some prominent Nigerians in various courts, we recently delivered letter to the army authorities requesting them to release some of their senior serving officers linked to the case for interrogation.
“And they have acknowledged receipt of the letter and Mr. President is also in the know of the letters,” the source revealed.
The senior operative of the EFCC further disclosed that apart from the serving military officers, some senior military officers who were recently retired by President Muhammadu Buhari, have also been fingered in the arms deals.
He added: “Apart from the serving military officers, some very senior retired military officers are also on the list of people to be interrogated by the EFCC and they have been invited.
“We understand some of them are outside the country right now. But we have delivered their letters of invitation to their contact addresses.
“As you are already aware, a senior military officer is being detained in connection with the arms deals. The officer in question was a technical aide in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in charge of procurement in the army.”
THISDAY further gathered that the invitations extended to both serving and retired senior military officers are predicated on the statement made by the embattled former NSA, who has maintained that sophisticated arms and ammunition were actually purchased in collaboration with some military officers and delivered to various army units.
"It is becoming obvious that apart from Dasuki, some senior military officers were also deeply involved in arms procurement. And we want to make sure we get to the root of the matter. Anybody linked to the case will be invited for questioning,” the EFCC source added.