A former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, who was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the $2.1billion arms deals probe, has been detained.
Ex Chief Air Staff, Adesola Amosu
The Ex Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu is being detained by the anti-graft agency for his alleged involvement with the $2.1billion arms deals probe.
According to a source privy to the development, Amosu has been undergoing “intense” interrogation in the last 17 hours, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The bank accounts of the ex-Air Chief may have been restricted. Besides, some houses believed to be his have been put under surveillance.
The Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Unit of the EFCC was yesterday verifying some of the properties allegedly traced to Air Marshal Amosu.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Amosu reported to the EFCC late Tuesday based on the report of the Special Investigative Committee(SIC) and we have detained him.
“The ex-Chief of Air Staff has undergone intense interrogation in the last 17 hours on more than 10 contracts awarded by the Nigerian Air Force between January 2014 and February 2015.
“He is expected to provide evidence of the execution of these contracts and clarify why NAF bought used Mi-24V helicopters instead of Mi-35M series.”
The source spoke about how some used Alpha jets were bought and Amosu confirmed in a letter to former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki that all the Alpha-Jets were delivered to NAF in good condition.
“So, Amosu is central to the purchase of some of the arms and jets. After interrogating him, we will then take on all Air Force officers associated with procurement in NAF. The truth is that the figures of procured equipment do not tally at all with the inventory on ground,” the source said, pleading not to be named because he is not allowed to speak on the investigations.
Responding to a question, the source added: “With Amosu being interrogated, we will now be inviting other top military chiefs.
“Dasuki confirmed that Amosu and a few others confirmed the receipt of these equipment and jets in good condition.”
Some of the former Service Chiefs and top military officers have relocated to Abuja ahead of their appearance before the EFCC team.
Others to be probed are 22 companies, which have been traced to associates and relatives of some of the suspects.