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Tag: $2.1b arms deals

  • $2.1b arms deals: Jonathan’s ex-aide Dudafa arrested

    $2.1b arms deals: Jonathan’s ex-aide Dudafa arrested

    Former presidential aide Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa has been arrested, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The former Senior Special Assistant ( Domestic Affairs) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is to be interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the investigation into the $2.1billion arms deals.

    Sources said he was being grilled last night over $47million and 5.6million Euros (N10 billion) which were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The cash was allegedly shared to delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Primary Election on November 27, 2014.

    Investigation revealed that Dudafa, who was at large, was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos by operatives of the Department of State Security Service(DSS).

    It was learnt that he was immediately handed over to the EFCC and flown to Abuja.

    A source said: “Except for the vigilance of security agents at the airport, Dudafa would have gone through the checks unnoticed. But having been watch-listed, operatives of the DSS intercepted and arrested him.

    “After handing him over to EFCC, Dudafa was immediately flown to Abuja for interrogation. He was brought in at about 9.15pm.

    “The EFCC is excited by the arrest of Dudafa because he is central to many transactions as the SSA Domestic Affairs to ex-President Jonathan.”

    The EFCC arraigned Dudafa in absentia with a former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, ex-Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda and a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu and six others for alleged N10billion loot.

    One of the charges said: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser and Hon. Waripamowei Dudafa(now at large) whilst being Senior Special Assistant , Domestic Affairs to the President on or about 27th November, 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N10billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with the CBN, the equivalent of which sum you received from the CBN in foreign currencies to wit: $47million and €5.6million Euros committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you claimed to have distributed same to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Presidential Primary Election delegates and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.”

     

  • $2.1b arms deals: EFCC traces transfers to 11 foreign accounts in UK, US, Niger

    $2.1b arms deals: EFCC traces transfers to 11 foreign accounts in UK, US, Niger

    • May seek collaboration with foreign anti-graft agencies

    Much of the $2.1billion arms funds put in care of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) by the Jonathan Administration was paid into 11 different accounts in the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and Niger Republic, further probe of the money has revealed.

    Dozens of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, top government functionaries and retired/ serving military officers had earlier been linked with the sharing of the slush funds.

    Some of them are already facing charges in connection with the funds disbursement.

    The  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) which is investigating what became of the money which was originally earmarked for the procurement of arms to prosecute the  anti-Boko Haram war has traced payment transfers to more the foreign accounts.

    Sources said yesterday that more accounts into which the funds were paid by the ONSA might be uncovered in the next few weeks.

    The agency may seek collaboration with its counterparts in other nations to determine the legality or otherwise of such transfers.

    Although the payment mandates indicated that the wired funds were for technical equipment or supply of vehicles, the EFCC is interested in establishing  whether or not the items were delivered and if the costs of the items were inflated or not.

    Some of the transfers, according to sources, were effected through ONSA Foreign Operations Account No. 100367-USD-CABANK- with FBN Bank UK and a few others through the Central Bank of Nigeria and some commercial banks in the country.

    Transfers being investigated are as follows:

    • $10million (July 11, 2014) BSIC-NIGER, Code Bank NE 110, Swift Code BSAHNENI, Account 020383700112 );
    • $38million paid to Societe Nigerienne de Banque (H0064B0100125111123981/22 CODEBIC( May 20, 2014)
    • $16million to a different account in Societe Nigerienne de Banque (H0064B0100125111123981/41 CODEBIC (May 20, 2014)
    • €1,401,869 transferred to SONIBANK (Republique du Niger (October 2, 2013)
    • €1, 395,346.84 to another account in SONIBANK( Republique du Niger on December 11, 2013

    *€2,252,252.25 wired to SONIBANK (Republique du Niger) on April 1, 2014.

    • $36million remitted into CitiBank N.A.Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB on May 20,2014;
    • $5million to CitiBank N.A. Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB on June 4, 2014
    • $30million to CitiBank N.A.Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5LB on March 9, 2015
    • $50million to Deutsche Bank Trust Company in New York on March 9, 2015
    • $6, 954,000 to Deutsche Bank Trust Company in New York on April 21, 2015

    A reliable source in EFCC said: “We have succeeded in retrieving documents relating to some funds that were wired abroad by ONSA. We were able to identify more than 11 foreign accounts and the actual remittances.

    “Already, we are tracking what the funds were used for including payment for technical equipment and supply of vehicles. Our investigation includes determining whether or not the equipment were bought and delivered; and whether the cost prices were inflated or not.

    “This crucial aspect of investigation accounted for why some military officers were handed over to the EFCC for investigation.

    “We are also collaborating with anti-corruption agencies in other jurisdictions to determine the validity of such transfers and confirm if the funds were not laundered.

    “The EFCC is being painstaking in its investigation to ensure fairness to all suspects under probe.

    Responding to a question, the source said:”the EFCC has recovered $2.3million from a suspect involved in the arms procurement contract scandal in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    “The affected person is a contractor and not one of the military officers referred to this agency. He has more money to refund and we have decided to keep his identity under wraps until full recovery of the slush funds is made.

    “We also do not want to reveal his identity in order not to jeopardize ongoing investigation.”

    The presidency had handed over a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and 17 others, including 11 serving senior military officers and 22 companies, to EFCC for investigation on the alleged $2.1billion arms deals.

    Apart from Badeh, others under investigation  are ex-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.Oguntoyinbo (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.

  • $2.1b arms deals: Top military officers lose posts

    $2.1b arms deals: Top military officers lose posts

    Some of the top military officers under probe for the $2.1 billion phoney arms deals have lost their command positions, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Presidency has also replaced the designated military attache for the embassy in Germany.

    It was gathered that the military officers under investigation have been detained at a facility in one of the barracks in Abuja.

    The Presidency  handed over a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and 17 others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for investigation on their involvement in the scandal.

    The list include 11 military officers and two former Chiefs of Air Staff, Air Marshals M.D. Umar and A.N. Amosu(retd.).

    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.”

    Section 113 of the Armed Forces Act(2004) makes an officer found guilty liable for an imprisonment of five years.

    The section says: “A person subject to service law under this Act who by means of a fraudulent trick or device-

    (a) obtains from another person anything capable of being stolen; or

    (b) induces another person-

    (i)  to deliver to any person a thing capable of being stolen; or

    (ii) to pay or deliver to any person any money or goods or any greater sum of money or greater quantity of goods than he would have paid or delivered but for the trick or device,

    is guilty of an offence under this section and liable, on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.”

    A military source said last night: “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.”

    Some of those serving military officers are: AVM A. M. Mamu(the Chief of Administration); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi;  AVM J.B. Adigun( Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings); Col. N. Ashinze(Designated Military attache to Nigerian Embassy in Germany)

    Their replacements are: AVM A.A. Jekenu(Chief of Administration); AVM B. G. Saidu(Chief of Policy and plans (DHQ); AVM E.A. Anebi(Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); and AVM E.E. Agwungwu(Acting AOC, Tactical Air Command); and Air Commodore Clement Ogbeche(Chief of Accounts and Budget); AVM Lawal Alao (Managing Director, NAF Holding Company (NAFHC).

    There were indications last night that the Presidency has replaced Col. Ashinze as  the military attache to the Nigerian Embassy in Germany because of the ongoing investigation.

    A top source said: “The government cannot wait till the end of investigation before posting a military attache to Germany. Col. Ashinze has been dropped from this assignment.

    “A new attache must have resumed by now.”

     

  • $2.1b arms deals: FG beefs up security for probe panel chairman, others

    $2.1b arms deals: FG beefs up security for probe panel chairman, others

    •Israeli agent’s movement restricted
    •Why serving military officers under
    probe still retain command positions

    The federal government is not taking chances in the probe of arms deals under the last administration.

    It has consequently beefed up security around the probe panel chairman, AVM J.O.N. Ode(rtd) and others members of the committee.

    Sources said last night that the action was to check the desperation of some suspects being investigated in the arms deals to infiltrate the panel.

    Already, the movement of an Israeli agent described as central to the arms deals, has been restricted to the country pending the conclusion of the investigation.

    His passport has been seized to stop him from sneaking out of the country.

    Investigations suggested that some under probe had gone as far as employing subtle means to woo relations and friends of the panel chairman and members with a view to prevailing on the panelists to ‘tread softly.’

    But the committee members have vowed to get to the roots of the scandals in the Armed Forces.

    A highly-placed source said: “Some of these suspects were so desperate that they were ready to do anything to escape justice.

    “You can imagine how daring they have become by offering $150,000 to an EFCC operative.

    “The government has decided to build heavy security round the Chairman and members of the Special Investigative Committee and their families.”

    Other members of the committee are R/Adm J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.); R/Adm E. Ogbor (rtd.); Brig Gen L. Adekagun (rtd.); Brig Gen M. Aminu-Kano (rtd.); Brig Gen N. Rimtip (rtd.); Cdre T.D. Ikoli ; Air Cdre U. Mohammed (rtd.); Air Cdre I. Shafi’i; Col A.A. Ariyibi; Gp Capt C.A. Oriaku (rtd.); Mr. Ibrahim Magu (EFCC) and Brig Gen Y.I. Shalangwa(Secretary).

    Responding to a question, the source said: “The ongoing exercise comes with a lot of risks for the chairman and members of the committee.

    “The probe of the procurements by the military is just about 50 per cent level and the panel has uncovered mind-boggling frauds.

    “By the time the panel is fully done, Nigerians will appreciate the extent of the rot in the system.

    “Yet, most of these suspects are really daring and too desperate in wielding influence.

    “Phase II of the investigation borders on inflation, diversion, reduction and embezzlement of salaries and allowances of troops by senior officers. This committee is yet to get to this bend.”

    Investigation also revealed that some of the serving military officers being probed are still retained in their command positions for strategic reasons.

    Some of those affected are the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu(the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T. Oguntoyinbo (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; Air Cdre AY Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    A defence source said the military hierarchy left these officers in charge of their formations to “protect their right to fair hearing, their innocence until proven guilty and prevent them from leaving the country under any guise.

    “They are no doubt distracted by the allegations against them but it is tactical to leave them in their positions until it is ripe to invite, arrest or detain them.

    “As long as they remain in service, it will help the assignment of the Special Investigative Committee.

    “We want them to be in the system and answer all the allegations against them. It is like putting them in a tight corner.”

    As at press time, it was learnt that the movement of an Isareli agent, who facilitated some of the arms procured, has been restricted.

    Another source close to the committee said: “The passport of the Israeli agent has been seized and had us virtually restricted to his residence pending the conclusion of the ongoing probed by the committee.”