The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday questioned some top military officers indicted in the alleged $2.1 billion arms fraud, Daily Trust gathered.
President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the probe when his government discovered that the funds were diverted to other purposes by top officers during former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, whose office handled the arms purchases is already facing trial.
Five Service chiefs and many other senior military and air force commanders have already appeared before the probe panel.
A second interim audit report by a Presidential probe panel had recommended further investigation of some serving and retired military officers linked to the arms fraud.
President Buhari last week directed the EFCC to carry out further investigations into the activities of such officers.
It was learnt yesterday that some of the officers on the list have started arriving the EFCC headquarters in Abuja to face questioning.
Attempts to get EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren to disclose the names of the officers that attended yesterday’s session was not successful because his mobile phone number was not reachable.
However, EFCC sources confirmed to Daily Trust that some of the officers had begun showing up at the head office of the commission yesterday.
Those the president directed should face further investigation are former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and two former Chiefs of Air Staff – retired Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, and retired Air Marshal M.D Umar.
Others are Air Vice Marshal A. M. Mamu, Air Vice Marshal O. T. Oguntoyinbo, Air Vice-Marshal T. Omenyi, Air Vice Marshal J. B. Adigun and Air Vice Marshal R. A. Ojuawo.
The rest are Air Vice Marshal J. A. Kayode-Beckley; Air Commodore A. O. Ogunjobi; Air Commodore G. M. D. Gwani; Air Commodore S. O. Makinde; Air Commodore A. Y. Lassa; and Colonel N. Ashinze.
Military sources said the Services were ready to release those indicted to face prosecution, noting that the outcome of the EFCC investigation would determine the next line of action for the military authorities regarding those officers.
EFCC seals officers’ property in Abuja, Kaduna
The anti-graft agency has sealed so many properties belonging to some of the officials on trial or under investigation.
Those affected are former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former Chief of Defence Staff and a former Commander of Operation Lafia Dole in the north-east.
Properties said to belong to Dasuki which were confiscated in Kaduna included a hotel complex located at Rabah Road, Malali GRA and a Housing Estate at Sani Sami Road in the same Malali GRA.
However, residents of the area stormed by the anti-graft agency commended the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war, calling on him to beam searchlight on other suspects.
Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that a mighty residential duplex located at no. 5C, Sultan Close is said to belong to a past Commander of Operation Lafia Dole in Maiduguri.
When this reporter visited the property, it was marked in red thus: ‘EFCC Keep off, under EFCC investigation’ Our correspondent also gathered that when EFCC operatives stormed the house on Sunday evening, there was a birthday party going on, but the revellers were asked to vacate the premises immediately.
The EFCC operatives allegedly took the General’s wife along with them even though the general’s whereabouts were said to be not known.
Further investigation revealed that a shopping mall worth hundreds of millions of naira which allegedly belonged to General Abubakar’s wife was equally confiscated by the anti-graft agency, with the same inscription on it.
People around the property however said it belonged to the General’s brother and not to his wife as alleged.
Similarly, another property, a shopping mall along Sultan Road, which is said to belong to the general’s ambassador friend, was confiscated.
