There are indications that a massive probe is coming within the military in relation to at least 19 ex military chiefs.
It should be recalled that earlier this week President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the creation of a panel to carefully investigate the controversies associated with arms procurement in the Armed Forces from 2007 till date.
According to The Nation, the development generated panic among the former military seniors previously involved in arms purchases coordination. Five chiefs of defence staff, four national security advisers, 14 service chiefs and eight former ministers of defence will be reportedly subjected to the probe.
It has been also obtained that five Israeli actors, who participated in the procurement deals in the last six years, would face the panel, the members of which were said to have been provided with security protection.
A source familiar with the matter disclosed:
“The probe will require looking into the administrations of five chiefs of defence staff, 14 service chiefs; four national security advisers and eight former ministers. It is a Herculean task.
“Already, there is panic in the circle of retired military officers on the intent of the evaluation of arms purchase. Some of these former military chiefs have reached out to panel members to allow them have access to relevant documents.”
A military source, who pleaded for anonymity, narrated:
“All arms deals were not subjected to the nation’s procurement laws even though the late President Umaru Yar’Adua specifically said there should be no due process waiver for the military.
“Most of the military chiefs cited security reasons for not subjecting those purchases to the nation’s laws. So, some of these military officers either depended on the Ministry of Defence or used internal mechanisms to buy arms.
“In some instances, there were directives from the presidential villa as in the case of the $466.5m contract awarded to a financier of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to weaponise six Puma helicopters. The immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, raised some issues but he was overruled.”
Shedding light on the role of Israelis in the arms purchase deals, another source said:
“These Israelis were central to the facilitation of the purchase of the arms for the military in any part of the world. But they left Nigeria before the general election when the signs were clear that President Buhari was likely to win the poll.
“They came for legitimate arms business but they got entrenched in the Nigerian system. They are all well-known in the nation’s security network. The panel may invite them for interaction.
“Besides the Israelis, some South Africans and Russians will be contacted. We know their embassies will cooperate with the panel.”
Another investigation in a series was ordered in relation to the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who was hit with a charge by the Department of State Security Services over the possession of unregistered arms.
All the moves by the government come after a noticeable shake-up in the country military system, which has in a recent period saw a number of sackings and new appointments.
According to The Nation, the development generated panic among the former military seniors previously involved in arms purchases coordination. Five chiefs of defence staff, four national security advisers, 14 service chiefs and eight former ministers of defence will be reportedly subjected to the probe.
It has been also obtained that five Israeli actors, who participated in the procurement deals in the last six years, would face the panel, the members of which were said to have been provided with security protection.
A source familiar with the matter disclosed:
“The probe will require looking into the administrations of five chiefs of defence staff, 14 service chiefs; four national security advisers and eight former ministers. It is a Herculean task.
“Already, there is panic in the circle of retired military officers on the intent of the evaluation of arms purchase. Some of these former military chiefs have reached out to panel members to allow them have access to relevant documents.”
A military source, who pleaded for anonymity, narrated:
“All arms deals were not subjected to the nation’s procurement laws even though the late President Umaru Yar’Adua specifically said there should be no due process waiver for the military.
“Most of the military chiefs cited security reasons for not subjecting those purchases to the nation’s laws. So, some of these military officers either depended on the Ministry of Defence or used internal mechanisms to buy arms.
“In some instances, there were directives from the presidential villa as in the case of the $466.5m contract awarded to a financier of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to weaponise six Puma helicopters. The immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, raised some issues but he was overruled.”
Shedding light on the role of Israelis in the arms purchase deals, another source said:
“These Israelis were central to the facilitation of the purchase of the arms for the military in any part of the world. But they left Nigeria before the general election when the signs were clear that President Buhari was likely to win the poll.
“They came for legitimate arms business but they got entrenched in the Nigerian system. They are all well-known in the nation’s security network. The panel may invite them for interaction.
“Besides the Israelis, some South Africans and Russians will be contacted. We know their embassies will cooperate with the panel.”
Another investigation in a series was ordered in relation to the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who was hit with a charge by the Department of State Security Services over the possession of unregistered arms.
All the moves by the government come after a noticeable shake-up in the country military system, which has in a recent period saw a number of sackings and new appointments.
