Arms deal scandal: EFCC uncover 35bn share between 2 ministers and chief of staff

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered another arms deal scandal. In a report by Leadership, the commission uncovered more than a decade later that N35 billion meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition between 2008 and 2015 was shared between top government officials.

At that period a loan of N35 billion from the debt management office was obtained by the Ministry of Defence for the provision of logistics items and equipment to troops in peacekeeping missions under the Nigerian Contingencies in Peace Keeping Missions (CADEP).

A contractor and his companies have been alleged to be involved in the fraudulent act along with a former president’s chief-of-staff, two former defence ministers, inspector general of police and permanent secretaries.

Documents, as cited by the Vanguard, showed that the majority of the money was diverted by top government officials posing as genuine contractors. Not only did they disappear with the funds, but they also provided substandard facilities that the troops haven’t been able to use till date, in some cases.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered another arms deal scandal.
According to the newspaper publication, the documents revealed that the contractor who was used as a front to divert the funds exposed the top government officials. He opened up on how the officials dictated the way the funds should be shared instead of executing the contracts and got full payment.

The contractor said: “Forty million each was paid to the personal assistant to the Permanent Secretary in the Defence Ministry, for facilitating the letter of credit for the N533 million Simulation equipment supply contract to the Nigerian Army in Lagos.

“After the Permanent Secretary gave me three contracts worth N120 million to execute on his behalf, I paid the sum of N50 million each to him through his personal assistant, and he asked me to buy a new Honda Accord for his new wife. He also asked me to buy a Passat and a Jetta for his personal assistant.”

Tony Orilade, the acting head of media and publicity for EFCC confirmed the investigation and added that the suspects would soon be charged to court.