EFCC traces huge cash to military chiefs’ wives, kids

Some of the $2.1billion phoney arms contractscash have been traced to the accounts of wives and children of some former and serving military
chiefs, The Nation has learnt.
The Economic and Finanacial CrimesCommission (EFCC), which is probing how the money was spent, may restrict acess to all the
identified accounts “this week”, a source said yesterday.
Also yesterday, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, reported to the
EFCC.
But his invitation was rescheduled
for Monday ”because of operational reasons”.
It was learnt that the EFCC may interrogate Air Chief Marshal Badeh alongside some military officers who have also been invited.
A source close to the investigation said some of the former and serving officers under investigation acquired properties in the names of
their wives, children and relations “to hide their loot”.
The source said: “Our investigators have uncovered that some of these military officers under probe stashed their shares of the $2.1billion arms cash in the accounts of their
relations, especially wives and children.“We have traced such slush funds and we may freeze these accounts until we have screened
the inflows and expenditures.
The legitimately Operated accounts will be freed after thorough
screening.”
Besides, some houses belonging to the children and relations of some military chiefs have been
identified as products of proceeds of financial crimes. “We have already marked the properties of one of the children of a top military brass.
We have invoked Temporary Assets For feiture Clause in EFCC Act,” the source said.
“It is obvious that some of the arms cash were laundered through proxies, relations and phony
companies. Some even registered companies in the names of their spouses or families.”
Responding to a question, the source added:
“We have done enough ground work to interrogate some of these former and serving military chiefs.”
Air Chief Marshal Badeh appeared briefly at the EFCC but his interrogation was shifted
to Monday.
“We have also summoned most of the former and serving military officers referred to EFCC for
probe,” another source said.
Attempts to get Air Chief Marshal Badeh last night were unsuccessful.
Apart from the former CDS, others under investigation are Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal M.D. Umar; a former National Security Adviser,
Col. Sambo Dasuki ; Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-NSA; and
a former Chief of Air Staff, A.N. Amosu; the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu
(the Chief of Administration); AVM
O.T.Oguntoyiinbo (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 JA 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 GMD Gwani; Air Cdre SO
Makinde; and Air Cdre AY Lassa
Some of the areas of investigation are:
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.
4 used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US
$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA
Cannibalization of engines from NAF fleet to
justify procurement of jets
Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air
Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per
one
Delivery of radars without vital component
of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that
distinguishes between own and adversary
aircraft
Strange transfer of $2m to Mono Marine
Corporation Nigeria Limited owned by some
Air Force officers
N15bn lavished on the maintenance of its
Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P
helicopters.
N2.5billion contracts awarded to Syrius
Technologies( Ukrainian company) not
registered in Nigeria
Award of 7 contracts worth
N599,118,000.00 contracts to Defence
Industry Corporation of Nigeria(DICON) but
two delivered.