#Dasukigate: Listed retired military officers show up at EFCC for questioning

News in is that some of the listed retired military officers linked to the #Dasukigate scandal showed up at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday for questioning. President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered probe into how the arms fund was when it was 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 learned yesterday that some of the officers on the list have started arriving the EFCC headquarters in Abuja to face questioning. 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, 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.

The military officers and 21 firms were allegedly awarded contracts which have now been traced to some of their associates and relatives. The President reportedly took the decision to investigate the former service chiefs and others based on the report of the audit committee which, according to him, identified such breaches as non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act. He said the procurement processes were “arbitrarily carried out and generally characterized by irregularities and fraud.”