The arms purchase probe panel will examine contracts executed during the administrations of no fewer than 19 former military chiefs. They are five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers (NSAs) and eight former Ministers of Defence.
The probe has created panic among retired military chiefs who coordinated arms purchases in the last eight years, The Nation learnt yesterday. Some of the officers, according to sources, have started making moves to have access to “vital records”.
It was also learnt that five Israelis, who played major roles in arms procurement for the military in the last six years, are to be invited by the committee, whose members were named on Monday after President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.
The Israelis reportedly left the country on the eve of the general elections, following signs that Buhari might win the poll. The government has directed that tight security be provided for members of the panel. The assignment is comprehensive; it will run through many administrations.
A source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as “the sensitivity of the matter”, said: “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 gave insight into why it is necessary to invite the former CDS, Service Chiefs, NSAs and ex-ministers.
The source said: “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.”
Responding to a question, a military source said: “Some former ministers of defence interfered with arms purchase but a few others were sidelined. The immediate past Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, complained at a point to Jonathan that he was not fully in the picture of things.”
It was also learnt that the scope of the assignment might involve international collaboration following the need to question five Israelis.
Another source added: “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.”
As at press time, the panel might look into the list of the administrations of five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National Security Advisers and eight former Ministers of Defence.
The Chiefs of Defence Staff from 2007 to 2015 are: the late Lt.-Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi (2007-2008); Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike(2008-2010); Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (2010-2012); Admiral Ola Ibrahim(2012-2014); and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh(2014-2015).
As for the Nigerian Army, those to be under searchlight are Lt.-Gen. Luka Yusuf (2007-2008), Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazzau (2008-2010), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika(2010-2014) and Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (January 2014-July 2015).
In the Nigerian Navy, the investigation will cover the following past Chiefs of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral G.T. Adekeye(2005-2008); Vice Admiral I.I. Ibrahim(2008-2010); Vice Admiral O.S. Ibrahim(2010-2012); Vice Admiral D.J. Ezeoba(2012-2013); and Vice Admiral U.O. Jibrin(2013-2015).
For the Air Force, the scope of the probe will affect the tenures of the following officers and their teams. They include Air Marshal Paul Dike(2006-2008); Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin(2008-2010); Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar(2010-2012); Air Marshal Alex Badeh(2012-2014) and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu(2014-2015).
The National Security Advisers from 2007 to 2014 are: Gen. Aliyu Gusau; the late Gen. Owoye Azazi; Gen. Sarki Mukhtar; and Col. Sambo Dasuki.
The Ministers of Defence within the time frame of the panel are: Yayale Ahmed(2007-2008); Shettima Mustapha(2098-2009); Godwin Abbe(2009-2010); Adetokunbo Kayode(2010-2011); Bello Haliru Mohammed(2011-2012); Erelu Olusola Obada(2012-2013) ; Gen. Aliyu Gusau (2013-2015) and Musiliu Obanikoro(2012-2014).
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