The Nigerian Army authorities are currently waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to carry out military trial on all suspected serving officers in the ongoing investigation into the $2.1bn arms procurement scandal.
A reliable government official disclosed to The Punch on Sunday that military authorities had sought the President’s permission for the officers to be prosecuted under the Armed Forces Act.
He revealed that the position of the military was that the Armed Forces Act had made provision for such practices on the part of military men and how to handle their cases.
He said that the military believed that if the indicted officers were tried using the military rule, it would get a better outcome than when they were tried by the regular court.
The source said the move for military trial for the officers was imperative considering that the money, which is the subject of the investigation, was meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He said, “The military authorities have suggested to the Federal Government that all serving officers, found culpable in the ongoing investigation into the arms procurement scandal, be tried under the Armed Forces Act rather than being tried in regular courts.
“You may recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has returned Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, the former Aide-de-Camp to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, to the military authorities after he was interrogated.
“A former Military Assistant in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Col. Nicholas Ashinze, had also been confined to the Officers’ Mess by the military authorities after his initial detention by the anti-graft agency.
“The pending request to try and them and 11 other serving military chiefs using the Armed Forces Act may be responsible for this.”
The source, further disclosed that the military authorities were yet to get the approval from the FG to go ahead.
He pointed out that in reaching a decision, the President might rely on the advice of the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN); and the EFCC.
It would be recalled that the Presidency , recently handed over a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), and 17 others, including 11 serving senior military officers and 22 companies, to the EFCC for investigation into the alleged $2.1bn arms deals.
Others under probe are ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal M. D. Umar; a former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); Col. N. Ashinze; a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu; the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration); and AVM O. T. Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters).
Others include: AVM R. A. Ojuawo (Air Officer, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi); AVM J. B. Adigun (former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM J. A. Kayode-Beckley (Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T. Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings); four top officers at the Defence Headquarters, Air Cdre A. O. Ogunjobi, Air Cdre G. M. D Gwani, Air Cdre S. O. Makinde, and Air Cdre A.Y. Lassa.
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