EFCC arrests senior military officer in connection with ex-NSA’s $2bn arms deal fraud

monjola sotubo

January 4, 2016 12:30 PM

The suspect is said to be a serving army colonel who used to be a Special Assistant to Dasuki.

Nigeria's former National Security Advisor Mohammed Sambo Dasuki listens to a question after his address at Chatham House in London, January 22, 2015. REUTERS/Andrew Winning

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested a senior military officer in connection with the ongoing $2.1billion arms deal fraud probe involving former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

The suspect is said to be a serving army colonel who used to be a Special Assistant to Dasuki, Vanguard reports.

The EFCC is said to have arrested the officer at his home in the Apo area of Abuja last week.

“The military officer was picked up in connection with the purchase of the arms because he was in charge of inventory and how each unit of the Armed Forces got its equipment. The EFCC has invited the officer to verify the arms purchase and the delivery status,” a source told The Nation.

“This same officer related with many former and serving chiefs. There is no way he can be questioned without involving some of these officers in the military hierarchy.

“The arms scandal is messy and many ranking officers were involved. This is causing anxiety in the military because if the detained officer opens up, the probe will lead to more revelations,” the source added.

Dasuki is being investigated for allegedly supervising the laundering the funds which were meant for the procurement of arms for Nigeria’s military.

He was initially arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) on December 1, 2015 and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the following day.

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President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the arrest of Dasuki and others indicted in the alleged fraud after receiving a report submitted by a panel instituted by him to probe Nigeria’s arms purchases from 2007-2015.

The EFCC has also arrested 20 of Dasuki's former staff and Chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Raymond Dokpesi in connection with the allegations.

Dasuki has pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him and is currently being held by the DSS despite being freed on bail by two courts.

Buhari, in explaining the former NSA's continued detentio during the recent presidential media chat, said that the government can't release him due to fears that he might flee the country and escape justice.

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Watch video report on Dasuki's looting spree below:

monjola sotubo