EFCC traces huge cash to military chiefs’ wives, kids

Some of the $2.1billion phoney arms contracts cash have been traced to the accounts of wives and children of some former and serving military chiefs, The Nation has learnt.

The Economic and Finanacial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is probing how the money was spent, may restrict access to all the identified accounts “this week”, a source said yesterday.

Also yesterday, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal  Alex Badeh, reported to the EFCC.

But his invitation was rescheduled for Monday ”because of operational reasons”.

It was learnt that the EFCC may interrogate Air Chief Marshal Badeh alongside some military officers who have also been invited.

A source close to the investigation said some of the former and serving officers under investigation acquired properties in the names of their wives, children and relations “to hide their loot”.

The source said: “Our investigators have uncovered that some of these military officers under probe stashed  their shares of the $2.1billion arms cash in the accounts of their relations, especially wives and children.

“We have traced such slush funds and we may freeze these accounts until we have screened the inflows and expenditures. The legitimately operated accounts will be freed after thorough screening.”

Besides, some houses belonging to the children and relations of some military chiefs have been identified as products of proceeds of financial crimes. “We have already marked the properties of one of the children of a top military brass. We have invoked Temporary Assets Forfeiture Clause in EFCC Act,” the source said.

“It is obvious that some of the arms cash were laundered through proxies, relations and phony companies. Some even registered companies in the names of their spouses or families.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “We have done enough ground work to interrogate some of these former and serving military chiefs.”

Air Chief Marshal Badeh appeared briefly at the EFCC but his interrogation was shifted to Monday.

“We have also summoned most of the former and serving military officers referred to EFCC for probe,” another source said.

Attempts to get Air Chief Marshal Badeh last night were unsuccessful.

Apart from the former CDS, others under investigation  are 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

Some of the areas of investigation are:

• How 10 contracts totalling $930,500,690.00 were awarded
• Payment of  N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts
• Procurement of two used Mi-24V Helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00.
• 4 used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA
• Cannibalization of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets
• Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one
• Delivery of radars without  vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft
• Strange transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited owned by some Air Force officers
• N15bn lavished on the maintenance of its Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.
• N2.5billion contracts awarded to Syrius Technologies( Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria
• Award of 7 contracts worth N599,118,000.00 contracts to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria(DICON) but two delivered.