Former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the $2.1billion arms deals probe.
Amosu has been undergoing what a source described as “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.”
The issues highlighted for Amosu include:
- How 10 contracts totalling $930,500,690.00 were awarded;
- Payment of N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts;
- Procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00;
- Four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA;
- Cannibalisation of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets; and
- Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one.
There are also delivery of radars without vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft, transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited, owned by some Air Force officers and N15bn spent on the maintenance of Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.
Besides, N2.5billion contracts were allegedly awarded to Syrius Technologies ( an Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria and seven contracts worth N599,118,000.00 contracts to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON); two were delivered
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.
The involvement of 11 serving senior military officers yesterday created disquiet in the Armed Forces.
Some of those affected are the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu(the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM J.A. Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T. Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings), four top officers at the Defence Headquarters(DHQ), Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi; Air Cdre G.M.D. Gwani; Air Cdre S.O. Makinde; Air Cdre A.Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to Col. Dasuki (retd).
In a response to the Presidency, Dasuki had insisted that Amosu confirmed the delivery of the four Alpha Jets and 12 helicopters.
Dasuki said: “It is laughable for the panel to assume that four Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered. In a memo to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), referenced NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu, acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters.
“On 10/21/14, the Chief of Air Staff also confirmed the receipt of F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000. The same Air Force confirmed getting 2xTri Shield 36DG Tactical radars.
”In another letter of December 1, 2014 signed by L.S. Alao (on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff), the Air Force said it received five containerised fuel storage and dispensing units with equipment.
“The Nigerian Army wrote the ONSA to acknowledge the delivery of 14 armoured tanks. In a December 13, 2014 memo, the Brigade of Guards thanked ONSA for releasing N30m for RCA, operation allowance for troops on Op Urban Sweep II for third and fourth quarters of 2014. This is apart from the installation of CCT cameras at the Brigade Headquarters, two backscatter bomb detection vans and other equipment.
“On November 26, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform(in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs.
”These are some of the acknowledgment letters submitted to me by the end-users (the services). It is not for me to go and find out whether the equipment were delivered or not. I am not the one keeping the inventories.”
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