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Tag: ex-military

  • $15b arms deals: Report indicts ex-military chiefs

    $15b arms deals: Report indicts ex-military chiefs

    Buhari, panel’s chairman meet

    DSS files report on detained Air Cdr.  

    Some former military chiefs are likely to be invited over some suspicious arms contracts, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    They are among those indicted by the Presidential Committee on the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces, a source said.

    The committee is ready with its report on arms deals in the Army.

    The panel, headed by Air Vice Marshal JON Ode, is expected to submit its report this week to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The audit report on procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector covers 2007 to 2015.

    Some former Chiefs of Army Staff may be asked to respond to some issues in the report.

    Ahead of the submission of the report, the chairman  of the panel on Friday met with the President on some  recommendations and the  detention of one of its members, Air Commodore  Mohammed Umar(retd.)

    Umar is said to be central to the breakthrough recorded by the panel on some high-profile fraud.

    The Air Commodore was arrested on June 19 by the Department of State Service (DSS). About $1,030,000 was reportedly found at his residence in Maitama District, Abuja.

    The DSS has been working on clues that Umar  might have taken “advantage of his membership of the Arms Panel” to extort suspects.

    But Umar  insisted that the money was payment to his company, Easy Jet Integrated Service Limited, for cargo flights to  Houston and Hong Kong.

    He said the payment on 12 May 2016  was for: Cargo flight (Ilyusin II-76 cargo plane from Nairobi-Houston) at $520,000 and drop-off from Nairobi-Hong Kong at $510,000.

    The DSS is, however, still probing Air Commodore Umar.

    A source told our correspondent that the Ode Panel was ready with what he described as an “explosive” report.

    The source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said: “Certainly, heads will roll as it was the case when a similar outcome was presented to the Presidency on the Nigerian Air Force.”

    The source said the panel’s chairman met with the President in company of the National Security Adviser(NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd).

    “I think the panel had issues with the DSS over the arrest of Air Commodore Umar who is said to be central to the bursting of high-profile arms scandals. He was worried that Umar’s detention  had to do with plans by some forces planning to destroy the panel.

    “He made known his intention and that of other panel members to abandon the work over what they termed the unfair treatment of Air Commodore Umar,” the source said, adding:

    “You know these people have presented their report on Air Force on the basis of which Badeh and other Air Force chiefs are now on trial. They were preparing to submit this week that of the Army, which has indicted many people.

    “The detention of Umar was seen by the panel as part of a sinister ploy to get at the committee and rubbish all that we have done. And the Air Commodore, being a key member of the committee, knows too much and has a lot of documents that aided our work. That is why some are jittery.”

    “Umar was instrumental to the early success of the committee as he used his personal money to hire foreign experts on forensics and arms procurement to help the committee in unearthing alleged frauds committed over the years.”

    Apart from the chairman of the panel, some senior government officials and other individuals close to the President are said to have been angered by what they called “shabby and disgraceful treatment meted out to Umar for no just cause and allegations that cannot be proven”.

    A delegation of five governors led by Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was said to have met President Buhari on Thursday to complain about the travails of the retired military officer and the implications of what they called “the power game” on the government.

    Some of the items recovered by the DSS from the residence of the Air Commodore on June 19, 2016  are 13 vehicles; various denominations of both foreign and local currencies;  one bag  containing documents; one Black Star Express  bag containing documents; a laptop; a document containing details of disbursements made  by  the Armed Forces and security agencies, Volume 1-3; document on contract for Niger Armec EE Niger; document on Nigerian Air Force Holding Company(NAFHC) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria; two files  of Nigerian Air Force Properties Limited documents; and  one file of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    Also listed are two Pump Action guns.

    The DSS has filed a First Information Report (FIR) with a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja on Air Commodore Umar  to ensure that his detention is  in line with the law.

    Umar is undergoing investigation for alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

    The FIR reads in part: “Illegal possession of firearms and money laundering contrary to Section 27(1) (b) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap. F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 15(1) (d) (e) of the Money Laundering Act Cap. M18 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    “Enquiries by the State Security Service revealed that Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd) has in his possession two Pump Action guns with Serial Numbers 09/1573 and 397 without a valid licence and large sums of money in local and foreign currencies suggestive of the fact that he received the said monies in contravention of the Money Laundering Act.”

    A document sighted by our correspondent revealed that the FCT police on March 10, 2000 granted Mohammed the gun licence in line with The Firearms Act of 1958.

    The gun is described as SBSG, 12 Calibre or Bore, made by Magnum with No. 397. The ammunition is cartridge with 100 rounds.

    The licence reads: “Licence is hereby granted Air Commodore Mohammed Umar of House No. 4 Lundi Close, off Missisipi Road, Maitama, Abuja to possess and bear the firearm described in the Schedule hereunder. The licence is issued subject to the following terms: Hunting and Gaming. The licence is valid until 31st December, 2010.”

    The licence was for a period of 10 years; it was not immediately clear why Umar did not renew it.

    He ran into trouble with the DSS for not renewing the said licence.

    A source gave an insight into the investigation of Air Commodore  Umar by the DSS.

    He said: “Air Commodore Umar was a known face in Aso Rock from the time of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua up to the twilight of Jonathan administration.

    “A very close ally of Isa Yuguda during the inglorious days of the Cabal operating  in the Presidency in the absence of an incapacitated late President Umaru Yar’Adua, under the Buhari administration, he has struck a blossoming partnership with a top security chief.

    “There is also pressure on investigators to question him as to how he got the money to float Easy Jet as an Air Commodore?

    “An equally important question is why keeping government documentary evidence in personal abode?”

    The source spoke of “a cabal fraternising with close aides of the President while also going around to drop the President’s name for favour-seekers.

    “The activities of the cabal are gradually becoming an embarrassment to the anti-corruption campaign of the Buhari-led administration.”

    The cabal  is said to have turned the home of a member of the arms probe panel into a “trial-before-trial” meeting place.

    “It will be recalled that former Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu retuned N2.3b to the Federal Government. The EFCC also seized houses belonging to Mr. Amosu worth over N500m, in addition to $140,000 USD in cash with an additional N381m seized from Mr. Amosu’s wife.

    “The cabal’s tentacles are growing by the day and might be bigger than what was experienced under any administration in Nigeria.

    “The latest onslaught was unleashed on the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari who has been considered a threat to the cabal’s operations. He has been targeted and silenced with a view to successfully isolating the Presidency. Kyari has been side-lined.

    But there were rumours last night over plans to save Umar.

    A security source said: “Insiders also squealed that an independent team of investigators would be raised to establish the veracity of all allegations against Mohammed Umar.

    “This proposed move is to forestall a scandal of unimaginable proportions which could threaten the success of Buhari’s anti-corruption war.”

    A source close to Umar debunked all the allegations and described them as baseless.

    He said: “These allegations are like wild goose chase. One, how can a person with unblemished military career like Air Cmdr Umar and who is close to the President be accused of terrorism financing? Which terrorists? And because that cannot fly they changed the music.

    “The two pump action guns they picked from his house were registered when he procured them in the year 2000. The licence is there. And how can you say someone who has business interests all over the world cannot be found in possession of foreign currencies?

    “Air Commodore  Umar travels widely. He is a friend of several heads of governments across the world and his two companies, Easy Jet and African Energy, have business interests the world over. And the cars that they found there are vehicles that he bought over the years; some 10 some, some eight, some five years.”

  • Ex-military chiefs jittery as arms purchase panel sits

    Ex-military chiefs jittery as arms purchase panel sits

    Committee under pressure to hold sessions in camera

    The 14-man panel on arms purchase for the Armed Forces, which begins sitting today in Abuja is under pressure to sit in camera “for security reasons”.

    The pressure is coming from some of the retired military chiefs who are listed to tell  the panel how the cash voted for their offices was spent.

    Emissaries are being sent to panel members by the ex-military chiefs.

    The Ministry of Defence has exonerated itself from whatever discrepancies that may be found in the arms purchase contracts going by Permanent Secretary Ismaila Aliyu’s statement at the Villa last month that it was sidelined in the arms purchase arrangement. According to him, purchases were made by the office of the national security adviser and the service chiefs.

    As a result of this, President Muhammadu Buhari approved that the ministry should get a seat on the panel.

    It was gathered that National Security Adviser Gen. Babagana Monguno last week inaugurated the panel behind the scene, in view of the seriousness attached to the task.

    The panel, sources said, spent the last few days collating some facts and figures on Defence budget, allocations for arms purchase and valedictory addresses by some past Service Chiefs.

    It was learnt that the panel may sit in camera following indications that some disclosures might touch on sensitive matters which might affect national security.

    The panel was weighing options last night on whether to throw its sitting open or to restrict coverage to non- sensitive issues.

    A highly-placed source said: “The committee will begin its work on Monday (today). All members have been advised accordingly.

    “The panel was inaugurated by the Gen. Monguno last Wednesday in line with the mandate of the President.

    “At today’s meeting, the panel will work out its modalities and how to go about preliminary paper work, which is in huge volumes.

    “The committee has also done some preliminary investigations including retrieval of some relevant documents on arms purchase.

    “I think the panel may sit in camera because its assignment touches on national security. There is even pressure on the government for a confidential briefing unless it is extremely necessary to allow the public insights into non-sensitive issues.

    “The committee is however weighing options on how best to conduct its assignment without distraction or heating up the polity.”

    President Buhari had on August 24 directed the National Security Adviser to convene an investigative committee on the procurement of hardware and munitions in the Armed Forces between 2007 till now.

    The panel was initially composed of 13-members before it was expanded with the inclusion of a representative of the Ministry of Defence.

    The committee is expected to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.

    The government said: “The establishment of the investigative committee is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.

    “It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects of troops’ morale.

    “The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”

    Members of the panel are AVM J.O.N. Ode (rtd.) – President; 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); Brig Gen Y.I. Shalangwa – Secretary and a representative of the Ministry of Defence.

    Some of the controversial issues likely for investigation are as follows:

    • $466.5m contract to weaponize six Puma helicopters by Jonathan administration
    • N3billion contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS).
    • Theft of over 200m Euros by PICOMMS including the purchase of two private jets
    • $9.3m cash-for- arms deal seized by South Africa
    • Whereabouts of $1billion loan approved by the 7th Senate for arms purchase to fight Boko Haram
    • What became of un-accessed N7b budget for the military
    • Contract scam over rehabilitation of the Military Reference Hospital in Kaduna

  • Ex-military chiefs’ discordant tunes

    SIR: In his valedictory remarks made on the occasion of his ceremonial “pulling out” from the Armed Forces, retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Sobundo Badeh painted a depressing picture of the state of readiness and combat worthiness of the Armed forces of Nigeria. He stated rather matter-of-factly that the Armed Forces are ill-equipped and lacking in motivation to combat Boko Haram gun men! That shocked Nigerians and certainly non-Nigerians who have been monitoring the “war on terror” in the North East Nigeria. Not done, the Air Chief Marshall also alluded to the inadequacy of the strength of the Armed Forces with respect to the number of troops under arms. He has since been roundly condemned in the media, print and electronic as well as on the social media. Many have stated the view, that it was an act of cowardice for the former CDS to be gamboling around in smart military uniform complete with bogus epaulettes, whilst the troops under his command were in the terrible shape he admitted they were in.

    Less than a week later, former Chief of Army Staff General Minimah read his valedictory remarks at a similar parade held in his honour in Abuja. His remarks were not as acerbic as those of the CDS. However, some key issues were raised about the state of the Nigerian Army in his time as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the on-going war against Boko Haram insurgents. Starting with those he referred to as “the elite” he claimed that they used the Boko Haram to advance their ‘political, religious and sectional interests”. This is similar to the charge of the former CDS that there were fifth columnists in the military. General Minimah claimed that if the elite had supported the government in the war on Boko Haram, more successes would have been recorded. He alluded to the inadequate funding by the “authorities” which show-cased the scant regard for the health and vitality of the Nigerian Army personnel. He claimed that adequate welfare could have motivated the troops to perform better. He bemoaned the decay occasioned by long period of neglect. General Minimah stated that he left the Nigerian Army better than he met it.

    The views General Minimah expressed were in many ways in tandem with those of the former CDS, particularly with respect to funding and equipment of the troops. But in an interview with PRNigeria, a public relations firm, former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), claimed that “Jonathan facilitated the acquisition of weapons for the military in the last one year”.

    Can this be the same military that the former CDS described as “ill-equipped? It just does not add up. Or can it be that the former CDS was not aware of the weapons the Jonathan administration acquired for the military? This is very unlikely to be the case because it is impossible for such a quantum of armament to have escaped the attention of the CDS. Dasuki named some of the acquired weapons to include Alpha jets, APCs, MRAP vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunitions, as well as highly sophisticated surveillance drones. The administration also deployed Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles that were bought and could withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes”. Somebody is not telling the truth.

    In the light of the claims and counter claims, it has become an absolute necessity that the Federal Government carry out a full scale investigation into the matter, even as we await the valedictory speeches of the former Chief of Naval Staff and the former Chief of Air Staff. It should interest Nigerians where all the huge defence budgets went. If the funds announced in the budget were not released, then what has to be accounted for would be the funded actually released to the military out of the humongous budgets year in year out. Exactly what happened has to be unearthed. The troops in combat as well as Boko Haram elements are closely monitoring the claims and counter claims. When the truths are finally established, government must correct all the lapses and inadequacies and ensure that the Nigerian Armed Forces are fully kitted, highly motivated and given full logistics back as the combat Boko Haram insurgents and indeed kidnappers, violent criminals and saboteurs who vandalized our oil facilities and all the kingpins of illegal oil bunkering.

     

    • Col Ola Majoyeogbe (rtd)

    Lagos.

  • How Yar’Adua died, by ex-military medical director

    How Yar’Adua died, by ex-military medical director

    •Gives insight into death of Abacha, others

    Detailed insights on the death of two former heads of state, General Sani Abacha and former President Musa Yar’Adua were given yesterday by a former medical director of the Military Hospital, Lagos, Brigadier-General Otu Oviemo Ovadje (rtd).

    Oviemo, medical doctor and internationally acclaimed Nigeria Army inventor who spoke yesterday in Lagos at a symposium also revealed how a former minister in the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet and a former Kwara State governor died due to lack of necessary medical facilities in the country.

    “The late Gen Abacha while in office could not undertake medical tourism but imported Filipino doctors to manage his condition. The Filipino’s made a mockery of his management by pumping steroids into him.

    “The President became bloated and was thought by the un-informed as improving and gaining weight. The President’s weight gain and puffiness was largely due to fluid retention. I was privileged as a celebrated Nigerian doctor at the time to advise but there were too many uninterested aides of the Head of State. It became too late in the day. He snapped and died,” Oviemo stated.

    He said it was unfortunate that the late leader could build a specialised centre to cater for his ailment, though there are more and better trained Nigerians who could have handled his case better, noting that it was profitable to bring in foreign doctors to spite the home grown, and for what is in it for them.

    Oviemo attributed the death of the late President Yar’Adua from brain damage caused by severe asphyxia to ignorance and poor management.

    “The presence of a sophisticated Air and Land Ambulance did not prevent him from dying from his condition just as the hospital in Saudi Arabia with all its gadgets could not reverse damage done to his brain during an acute deterioration of his health.

    “Imagine what could have happened to our very meek, humble and generally loved president when he suffered an acute relapse of his condition. He was rushed into the ambulance and a face mask was turned on with oxygen flushing over his face.”

    Oviemo stated that the late Head of State was “hypo-ventilating at the time and by the time he got to Saudi Arabia, he had suffered irreversible brain death.

    “Because Nigerians believe in the god of mammon and that money answers all things, they expected a miracle from the Saudi hospital. The truth is that if we had good centres back home in Nigeria, the late Head of State should have been stabilised before been flown out. Our usual first impulse is to fly out the sick and our experiences have shown that many patients die,” he said.

    He also recalled the death of an unnamed former Military Governor of Kwara State who had pneumonia, and he was called to attend. However, the said governor was flown abroad without his own knowledge and the said former governor eventually died.

    According to him, “I met the big man sweaty, restless and confused due to carbon dioxide narcosis from his poor ventilation. I only adjusted his neck and positioned his head to enable him exhale properly and his condition improved.

    “I advised them not to fly him out immediately to allow him to be stable. I volunteered to fly with him at my own expense to support him on board. By the time I returned back from Lagos where I went for my passport, the man had been flown out. Early in the morning, I got a call from one of my highly placed mentors that “we lost him”.

    “I was told that he got to Germany but he died before he could gain admission to a hospital. The General’s condition could have been very well-managed in Nigeria but for the pleasure of medical tourism and the absence of identifiable/recognisable facilities and expertise. Money has robbed many privileged and affluent Nigerians of sensibility. They never see with you or take advice when money talks,” Oviemo recalled.

    He added that during the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former minister died from asthmatic attacks which could have been easily treated if necessary medical facilities were available in the country.

    South Africans, including their top government officials according to Oviemo, hardly undertake medical tourism like their Nigerian counterparts, noting that former President Nelson Mandela was still being treated for a heart condition in his country when he could have been flown out for treatment.

    He said many Nigerians cannot afford the price of management in centres that are well-equipped, while some of the centres are entrusted to mediocre due to nepotism or political consideration.

    Oviemo spoke at the symposium organised by Mcnext Intellectual Property in collaboration with the Student Union Government of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos on the topic Where are we in the Global Plan?

    He also lamented the country’s decline in Defence Technology and Agriculture.