The
Presidential Committee on Defence Equipment Procurement in the Nigerian
Armed Forces has invited three former Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) –
Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt.-Gen.
Kenneth Minimah.
The panel has also summoned over 292 serving
and retired top officers who worked with the three former Army chiefs,
The Nation reports.
It said it was in line with its mandate to look into procurement of arms, ammunition and equipment from 2007 to 2015.
The
committee, with the mandate to probe procurement of arms, ammunition
and equipment from 2007 to 2015, has also asked more than 10 local and
foreign companies, including the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria
(DICON) to appear before it.
Chairman of the committee, Air Vice
Marshal Jon Ode, has asked the Nigerian Army Headquarters to direct all
the officers to be present at the panel.
The panel’s letter to the
Army Headquarters said: “The invitees are required to clarify issues
arising from procurement between 2007 and 2015 before the committee
sitting at the ONSA daily.
“AHQ is required to cause the
appearance of the senior officers and CEOs of the companies before the
committee on dates stated against their names. Your cooperation will be
most appreciated.”
Procurement
overheads to be probed include ammunition for Darfur operation, supply
of training kits and equipment; purchase of 16MG and 29 RPG and
10Grenade Launchers; repair of seven assault craft; repair service and
upgrade of 29 Suncraft ; purchase of 15 Freefall Parachutes; buying of
MRAP vehicles with maintenace containers; order of Radio Technologies
Equipment; purchase of 10 APCs by DICON; 51 GPMG and sustenance of
Operation Zaman Lafiya; emergency procurement of Combat Equipment for
Ongoing Ops; Operation Internal Security; Quick Response Group and
Forward Operation Bases; HE Type Mortal and purchase of Bullet Proof
Vests.
Some of the retired officers invited are former Commander
of the Army Finance Corps, Maj-Gen Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (the
former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo
State; former Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Lagos ,
Maj.-Gen. Olayemi Abidoye; ex-Chief of Policy and Plans, Army
Headquarters, Major General E. E. Bassey; former General Officer
Commanding 3 Armoured Division, Major General Jack Okechukwu Nwaogbo;
former Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters (DHQ),
Major General M.A. Yerima; former Chief of Policy and Plans, Army
Headquarters, Major General O Akinyemi; former Commandant, Nigerian Army
Ordnance Corps (NAOC)Major-General A. A. Martins; ex-GOC 3 Amoured Div,
Maj.Gen. AB Marwa; and former Chief of Policy and Plans at Army
headquarters, Major General A. Atofarati.
Others include former
Commandant, Army Finance Corps, Gen. A.I. Muraina; ex- Directing Staff,
National Defence College, Maj-Gen. Christian Onuorah Ugwu; former
Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation (DICON), Maj.-Gen.
Ekwenugo Chioba; former Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters,
Major General Essien Bassey; former Chief of Logistics at the Army
Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Daniel Kitchener; and former Defence Attaché at
the Nigerian Embassy in Pakistan, Maj.-Gen. Daniel Kitchener.
Some
of the local and foreign firms slated for interaction, alongside their
Chief Executive Officers, are DICON; Streit Group; China North
Industries; Suncraft International Inc; Shangai L Electronics; Poly
Trechnologies Inc; NRTC Pakistan; Kennedy Logistics; DYS Global Service
Limited; Driveline System; Hadassa Investment Security Nigeria Ltd;
Oraco Trade Link Limited and M/S Jatori.
Although some serving
Army Generals are expected to appear before the panel, their names are
being kept under wraps “for strategic reasons”.