The probe into the multi billion naira arms deal under the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has been extended into the Special Forces training in Belarus by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).According to a report by The Punch newspaper, operatives of the anti-corruption agency are probing how funds, earmarked for the training of 750 Special Forces in Belarus and other European countries, are spent.
The special forces which is made of security operatives from the police, department of state services, Nigerian army, Air force and Navy were trained in counter- terrorism, counter-insurgency, handling of rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and other weapons.
“It is true that over 20 people have been arrested in connection with various security-related contracts awarded during the period under probe.
“They were picked up on different occasions over a week ago and have since been detained by the EFCC. Nobody knows why they are being kept for more than the 48 hours required by law.
“Another thing you must note is that the probe is touching on core security issues now. One of those detained was the person who handled the special training for Special Forces in Belarus.
“Those who were trained in Belarus were 750 security personnel selected from the DSS, the Police, the Army, Navy and the Air Force,” the report quoted an EFCC source.
The Special Forces went for the training in September 2014, arrived in the country in December, 2014 and were immediately deployed in the operational areas of the North-East in March, 2015.
A former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, has been arrested together with other top officials from the office of the National Security Adviser over the controversial arms procurement scandal surrounding former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
Recall that the agency has also begun investigation into all security transactions that took place under the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
In Washington last week, Jonathan said his government never awarded any contract in the range of $2 billion dollars.
