The military officers indicted in the arms scam
report released by the Federal Government may be
dismissed from service, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.


This is as indications emerged that the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission will this week begin
the interrogation of no fewer than 10 individuals
indicted in the third arms scam report released on
Thursday.
The 10 individuals, Sunday PUNCH gathered on
Saturday, include two former army chiefs, Lt-Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika and his successor, Lt-Gen.
Kenneth Minimah. Indication that the eight serving officers may be dismissed from service was given by the Defence
Headquarters on Saturday, while maintaining that the military supported the Federal Government’s
actions to cleanse the nation of corruption.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen.
Rabe Abubakar, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH,
said the military officers indicted for involvement in
the arms fraud scandal would face both civil and
military laws.


He hinted that the personnel might be dismissed
from service, saying that the armed forces would
not harbour officers that lacked integrity.
Abubakar stated that the armed forces would
support and implement whatever directives of the
government in respect of serving personnel indicted
for corruption by the Presidential Committee on the
Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the


Armed Forces led by AVM Jon Ode (retd.).
He explained that the military was subservient to
civil authority and would fully adopt whatever
measures the government rolled out against
offenders.


He said, “You are aware that security officers are
wearing two caps – they are under two laws, civil
laws and military laws and each of these laws are
aimed at taking certain actions that correct
anomalies which had been on for some time.


“The officers who have been indicted, whatever the
government decides to adopt, is what the military
would equally subject themselves to because we are
subservient to the government. Whatever
government’s moves are, we have to quickly fall in
with whatever instructions it issues.”


Asked if the officers would face a court-martial for
allegedly defrauding the military, the spokesman
said the issue was beyond that, emphasising that
the armed forces had stated several times that they
would not harbour personnel who lacked integrity.
On the issue of the arms scam, there is a separate
committee that deals with that kind of thing.


However, the most important thing is, some of them
(military officers) were indicted for this scam and
you are aware that the Nigerian armed forces had
made a clear statement that it would never harbour
personnel who have no integrity,” Rabe stressed.
He added, “We are completely behind the ongoing
anti-corruption drive in the country, so, the issue
now is not even whether they are going to be
court-martialled or not.


“The relevant government agency would ensure the
furtherance of the directive of government,
however, the armed forces of Nigeria are committed
to ensuring that corrupt practices are stemmed
out of the system and we support every policy of
the government in that direction.”


The Defence Headquarters spokesman cited the
ongoing prosecution of some Nigeria Air Force
officers for corruption, which he said indicated that
the services were in support of all efforts to rid the
system of corrupt elements.
The joint decision of the services on indicted
officers, he said, would be made public in due
course.


“Whatever is the plan of the services or the military
will be made known to the public. The most
important is, we have said it times without number
that we are in support of anything that would
cleanse the system,” Rabe said.


The Nigerian Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman,
could not be reached for comment as calls to his
phone indicated that it was unavailable.


A top officer of the EFCC had also confided in
Sunday PUNCH that invitation letters would be sent
to those concerned on Monday, and on Wednesday,
their interrogation would start.


It was learnt that besides the two former army
chiefs, others that would be interrogated this week
include Maj.-Gen. JAH Ewansiha (retd.); Maj.-Gen. U.
Buzugbe (retd.) and Maj.-Gen E R. Chioba (retd ).
Others are a former Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed; three ex-
Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence,
Mr Bukar Goni Aji, Mr Haruna Sanusi and E
Oyemomi, as well as Mr John Bamidele.


The EFCC source, who confided in Sunday PUNCH,
said, “On Monday, we will dispatch invitations to 10
of those mentioned in the report and by Wednesday
their interrogation will start.


“We already have the report as from this week we
will be sending invitations to them to hear their own
side of the story.”


The Federal Government had on Thursday ordered
the EFCC to probe 54 individuals.
The government had in a statement by the Minister
of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, ordered
investigation into the arms scandal.


http://punchng.com/arms-scam-eight-senior-military-officers-face-dismissal/

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ok

Shoki on the way.

Dasuki don get prison mate

He hinted that the personnel might be dismissed
from service, saying that the armed forces would
not harbour officers that lacked integrity.
Abubakar stated that the armed forces would
support and implement whatever directives of the
government in respect of serving personnel indicted
for corruption by the Presidential Committee on the
Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in th



Buratai aka Dubaitai the best saver has integrity

Dasuki is a terrorist... He purchase arm to Boko haram...

we must rid this country off corruption if we wanna move forward,

sai baba

we must rid this country off corruption if we wanna move forward,

sai baba

funny thing about this government is that he doesn't care, shout from here to Abuja if he discovered u stole he would hand u over to your husband efcc

Rikidony:
we must rid this country off corruption if we wanna move forward,


sai baba

While i quite agree with you that we must fight corruption totally for nigeria to experience growth, mr presido is enthrenching another form of corruption that is more deadly than the one he is currently battling called nepotism, this is what would sink this ship called nigeria.

Rikidony:
we must rid this country off corruption if we wanna move forward,


sai baba

While i quite agree with you that we must fight corruption totally for nigeria to experience growth, mr presido is enthrenching another form of corruption that is more deadly than the one he is currently battling called nepotism, this is what would sink this ship called nigeria, afterall the Titanic was thought to be unsinkable until it hit an iceberg due to the faulty
judgement of the sailor.

For being the Director of Procurement DHQ but his heart is as white as snow
pls a hand of applause for BURATAI