Top military officers under probe for the $2.1billion phoney arms deals have lost their command positions, it was learnt. The Presidency has also replaced the military attache for the embassy in Germany.
The case is really getting hot, it was further gathered that the military officers under investigation have been detained at a facility in one of the barracks in Abuja. The Presidency handed over ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and 17 others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation on their involvement in the scandal.
The list include 11 military officers and two ex-Chiefs of Air Staff, M.D. Umar and A.N. Amosu. A source at the EFCC said: “Investigation is still ongoing in respect of the past and serving military officers referred to this commission. I cannot say exactly when their trial will begin but investigation has reached appreciable level.”
It was unclear if the affected military officers will be tried by military tribunal or by a civil court.
“I think the weight of their offences and the sensitive nature of infractions will determine whether or not they will be arraigned before the military tribunal or a civil court.
“For instance, one of the suspects is from the Intelligence Unit. It will be challenging subjecting such an officer to an open trial in a law court.”
A military source said last night that: “All the serving military officers have lost their command positions. In fact, irrespective of their status(whether guilty or not), fairness demands that they should step aside until their trial is concluded.
“This is a standard military practice, which we have already adhered to. There is no way they can still be holding these sensitive military positions.”
Credit: Olu Famous
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