Buhari Orders Probe of Weapons Procurement Since 2007

Femi Adesina
 

• DSS charges Dasuki to court for illegal arms possession

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Acting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s instruction, the National Security Adviser, Mr Babagana Moguno has set up a committee to probe the procurement of hardware and munitions in the Nigerian Armed Forces from 2007 to date.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the investigative committee's mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the armed forces.

Adesina said the committee would 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.​

Accordingly, NSA has appointed AVM J.O.N. Ode (rtd.) as president of the investigative committee.

Members of the committee include Rear Admiral J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (rtd.), Brigadier-General L. Adekagun (rtd.), Brigadier-Genera;l M. Aminun-Kano (rtd.), Brigadier-General N. Rimtip (rtd.), Commodore T.D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (rtd.), Air Commodore I. Shafi'i, Colonel A.A. Ariyibi,  Group Captain C.A. Oriaku (rtd.)  and Mr. I. Magu  form the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while  Brigadier-General Y.I. Shalangwa will serve as secretary.

Adesina said the establishment of the investigative committee was in keeping with Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.

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

In a related development, the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) has been charged to court by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) over offences related to the possession of firearms without a licence.

A statement by the DSS yesterday issued by Tony Opuiyo said after searching Dasuki’s houses on July 16, 2015, its men discovered large cache of arms and ammunition and has subsequently charged him to court.

In the statement, Opuiyo said: “You may recall that on 16th July, 2015, the Department of State Services (DSS), carried out a search operation on properties belonging to the immediate past National SecurityAdviser, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Col/rtd) in Abuja and Sokoto.

“This action was necessitated by credible intelligence which linked him to acts capable of undermining national security. The search operation led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted.

“Consequently, on Monday 24th August, 2015, he was charged to court based on evidence so far obtained, but which relates to the possession of fire arms without licence punishable under Section 27(i)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004.

“This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law no matter how highly placed in the society. Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses.”

He added that the DSS has recommitted itself to the fundamental role of providing adequate security for all Nigerians to enable them pursue their legitimate aspirations and businesses.

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