EFCC publishes name of army officers to undergo trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the names of the former and serving military officers who are currently being investigated over misappropriation of funds.

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the names of the former and serving military officers who are currently being investigated over misappropriation of funds.
New Telegraph learnt that that 12 military officers, both serving and retired, are being prosecuted in various Lagos and Abuja courts for cumulative N94.7 billion frauds in relation to arms procurement.

In the trial, N93.84 billion were fraud-related cases while N851.1 million were cumulative amount paid in form of bribes to serving and retired officers of the Air Force. Interestingly, three successive Chiefs of Air Staff are facing trial for alleged
N31.57 billion fraud.

They are: a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Muhammed Dikko Umar and another former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu. A former commander of the Niger Delta Joint Task Force, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, is standing trial for allegedly swindling Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the tune of N19.7 billion.

Others in the arms scandal deal are Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga, Air Officer in charge of Tactical Air command, Makurdi, Air Vice Marshal Rufus Ojuawo and a former Chairman, Presidential Implementation Commit tee on Maritime Safety (PICOMMS), Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi (rtd.). In the bribery trial, all defendants are officers of the Nigeria Air Force.
They are a Director of Armament with NAF, Air Vice Marshal John Adeniyi Kayode-Beckly; Air Officer Training Command and a member of the Committee for Procurement, Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mohammed Mamu and Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air force, Air Vice Marshall Olutayo Tade Oguntoyinbo. All the defendants had, in their various trials, pleaded not guilty and the trials are ongoing.

While former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, is standing trial over alleged diversion of $2.1 billion and N45 billion arms deal money before three different courts.
News24 reported that the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, is to be tried for diverting N1.1 billion, among others, meant for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to buy a choice mansion for himself in Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also revealed how former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, looted money from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in order to acquire properties worth billions of naira.