The Presidency May Have Doctored The Arms Procurement Report

An investigative panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to audit procurement of arms by and for the Nigerian military between 2007 until he assumed office in 2015 submitted another interim report.

The Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Nigerian
Armed Forces completed the first of its piecemeal reports in November 2015 in which a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was indicted for allegedly mismanaging over N13 billion budgeted for procurement of arms.

Mr. Buhari ordered immediate arrest of Mr. Dasuki as recommended by the 13-member committee and he had since remained in detention amid disputes about how he should be prosecuted.

In February 2016, the committee, which consists of individuals pooled from mainly military or security background, visited military facilities across the country to carry out a physical examination of military weaponry and equipment and verify if new deliveries were taken, how they were purchased and their quality.

The panel then found over a dozen former military chiefs culpable in fraudulent arms deal within the period under review.

A former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, and Adesola Amosu, a former Chief of Air Staff, were subsequently indicted. They are facing trial in various high courts.

The report submitted to President Buhari on Thursday is third in the series, and it uncovered how ex-political appointees, private individuals and former military chiefs, including two erstwhile Chiefs of Army Staff, were suspected culpable in alleged fraudulent diversion of funds meant for arms procurement.

Azubuike Ihejirika and Kenneth Minimah, who both served under President Goodluck Jonathan, were recommended for further investigation by the committee.

Mr. Buhari was, however, criticised for allegedly doctoring the outcome of the latest report.

Critics said the panel indicted a close ally of Mr. Buhari and the current Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, but that the administration compelled the committee to have his name removed before publishing the report.

The government denied the allegations.

However, we shall keep you updated as supporters and opponents argued over the impact the alleged protection of Mr. Dambazau would have on Buhari government’s much-avowed zero-tolerance for corruption.

-Premiumtimes