The Federal Government has disclosed that more investigative reports on the audit of defence equipment procurement in the Armed Forces from 2007-2015 will soon be released. This was coming as government denied that the report of the probe panel released on Thursday was doctored to protect some interests and indicted officials.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who gave the assurance on Friday said what has been released so far is the report of audit covering 2011 to 2015, adding that the Committee would commence the audit of procurement from 2007 to 2010 as soon as the necessary documents are available.
‘’When the documents regarding the procurement from 2007 to 2010 are available and scrutinized, the committee will issue its report on that. The audit is being done in phases, and the report that was released on Thursday is the third of such,’’ the minister said.
He assured that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight is non-discriminatory, and called on Nigerians to keep an open mind as events unfold.
‘’No one should attempt to detract from the seriousness of the issues involved in this audit of defence equipment procurement. It is important to note that even though the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period were N185,843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49, the irregularities in the awards ensured that the military did not get value for money, with very serious consequences,’’ the minister said.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, had on Thursday ordered the probe of two former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah.
The two generals are among 54 persons to be investigated for their roles in the arms scandals that saw billions of dollars meant for arms for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram diverted into private pockets.
Chairman of the presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces, AVM Jon Ode (retd.), in a statement in Abuja on Thursday said the order followed the approval of the recommendation of the committee charged with investigating the Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015, for further investigation of those involved. The committee had found a number of irregularities in the contract awards.
Among those to be investigated are 18 serving and retired military personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 Chief Executive Officers of companies involved in the procurement. Those allegedly involved were either accounting officers or those who played key roles in the Nigerian Army procurement activities during the period under review.
Others listed for probe included a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, and three former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence – Mr. Bukar Goni Aji, Mr. Haruna Sanusi and Mr. E.O. Oyemomi.
The Chief Executive Officers to be investigated also include Col. Olu Bamgbose (retd.) of Bamverde Limited; Mr. Amity Sade of Doiyatec Comms Nigeria Ltd.; DYI Global Services and Mr. Edward Churchill of Westgate Global Trust Ltd. According to the Committee, the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period was N185, 843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49.
The committee found that the Nigerian Army contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence for the period under review were often awarded without “significant input from end-user (Nigerian Army) and to vendors who lacked the technical competence.”
The report also revealed, “As an example, three contracts with a total value of N5,940,000,000.00 were awarded to DYI Global Services Ltd. and Doiyatec Comms Nigeria Limited (owned by the same individuals) for the procurement of military hardware including 20 units of KM-38 Twin Hull Boats and six units of 4X4 Ambulances fitted with radios.”
