President Buhari’s critics on Friday carpeted his government for allegedly lying about the
terms of reference of the latest interim reports on the ongoing probe into arms procurement
by successive governments since 2007.
Mr. Buhari had on August 24, 2015, raised the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment
Procurement in the Nigerian Armed Forces to keep with his “determination to stamp out
corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.”
But many are now raising concerns not about what the committee included in its latest
report but what it might have deliberately left out.
The investigative committee submitted its third interim report on Thursday which detailed
how former senior military officers, political appointees and private individuals allegedly
channeled security funds into their pockets while the war against Boko Haram floundered.
Among the big names the report indicted were Azubuike Ihejirika and Kenneth Minimah.
Both served as Chief of Army Staff under President Goodluck Jonathan.
But government critics immediately raised concerns about the exclusion of the name of a
close ally of Mr. Buhari and the current Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau.
Mr. Dambazzau served as the chief of army staff between 2008 and 2010 and critics said it
was highly curious that he was not investigated even when the probe was designed to
capture all procurements from 2007 to 2015.
Our findings show that those accusing government of doctoring its latest arms panel may
have a point.
Buhari Government’s Claim
In an attempt to ward off allegation of bias, the Buhari government, via a statement from
the office of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said Mr. Dambazau’s
name was not included among those indicted because the third interim report only looked
into procurement and contracts awarded for and by the military between 2011-2015.
“When the documents regarding procurement from 2007 to 2010 are available and scrutinised, the committee will then
issue its report on that,” Mr. Mohammed said in a statement signed by his media adviser Segun Adeyemi.
“The audit is being done in phases, and the report that was released on Thursday is the third of such.”
The Facts:
A PREMIUM TIMES’ examination
of the report showed that the terms
of reference in its heading said it
queried all procurement from
2007 to 2015.
“Press Release on the Third
Interim Report of the Presidential
Committee on Audit of Defence
Equipment Procurement from
2007 to 2015 ,” it read.
The first paragraph of the seven-
page report also indicated the 13-
member committee used
2007-2015 as reference.
“In continuation of its assignment, the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP) in the Nigerian
Armed Forces, analysed procurement contracts awarded by or for the Nigerian Army between 2007 and 2015. ”
PREMIUM TIMES also observed that in page two of the report, the committee looked into procurement far back as 2005,
two years earlier than 2007.
“Similarly, between 29 April 2005
and 19 October 2010 , the MOD
(Ministry of Defence) awarded 2
contracts to Progress Limited for
the supply of 42 units of BTR-3U
Armoured Personnel Carriers and
spare parts for the Nigerian Army.
“However, neither the MOD nor
the NA could provide the contract
agreements to ascertain the cost of
the APCs. Although 26 of the APCs
were delivered in 2007 and
immediately deployed for Peace
Keeping Operations in Sudan, the
APCs scandalously broke down on
induction,” the report read in part.
In page four where the committee looked into tax infractions in the military, it was also revealed that the members
looked beyond 2011.
“The Committee observed breaches of laws and regulations on payments of With-holding Tax (WHT) and Value Added
Tax (VAT). The unremitted WHT from 2007 to 2015 amounted to about N862,962,065.99, $2,093,710.06 and €2,700.00
respectively.”
This newspaper also reported on July 7, citing top administration sources, that Mr. Dambazzau’s name was amongst
those indicted by the panel and that he was making concerted efforts to have his named removed.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/207015-fact-check-buhari-deceives-nigerians-report-shows-arms-panel-probed-dambazaus-tenure.html#.V8Wd3HYlACk.facebook

who cares?

Only brain dead religious fanatical z.ombies cannot see the fraud and stink of the useless government Nigeria has been cursed with.

God will save us from APC

abokibuhari:
who cares?

Of course who cares when you are fighting political enemies in the name of fighting corruption.

We know what this corruption fight is all about.

Anti kwaraption indeed