Arms Panel indicts Ihejirika, Minimah, 52 others for alleged N381 billion fraud

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Committee charged with investigating the Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015, for further investigation of those involved, after the committee found a number of irregularities in the contract awards.

The approval followed the Third Interim Report of the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment, which was released on Thursday.

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. 

All were either accounting officers or played key roles in the Nigerian Army procurement activities during the period under review.

Those listed for further investigation include two former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. O.A. Ihejirika (Rtd) and Lt.-Gen. K.T.J. Minimah (Rtd); 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 Me. E.O, Oyemomi.

Also, the CEOs to be investigated include Col. Olu Bamgbose (Rtd) of Bamverde Ltd; Mr. Amity Sade of Dolyatec Comms Ltd and 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 were N185,843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49.

It found that the Nigerian Army Contracts 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 necessary technical competence”.

”As an example, 3 contracts with a total value of N5,940,000,000.00 were awarded to DYI Global Services Ltd and Doiyatec Comms Nig. Ltd (owned by the same individuals) for the procurement of military hardware including 20 units of KM-38 Twin Hull Boats and 6 Units of 4X4 Ambulances fitted with radios. The committee found that the 2 companies collected N5,103,500,000.00, representing 86% of the total value of the 3 contracts worth N5,940,000,000.00, but only performed to the tune of N2,992,183,705.31,” the report said.

The committee also found that a contract worth N169,916,849.77 for the procurement of 53 Armoured Vehicles Spare Parts, with 90 days completion time, is yet to be completed 5 years after.

With respect to contracts awarded directly by the Nigerian Army, the Committee found that many of the contracts were characterized by ”lack of due process, in breach of extant procurement regulations and tainted by corrupt practices.

”In this regard, a review of the procurement carried out by Chok Ventures Ltd and Integrated Equipment Services Ltd established that between March 2011 and December 2013, the 2 companies exclusively procured various types of Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles worth over N3,000,000,000.0 for the Nigerian Army without any competitive bidding.

”Though the committee found no credible evidence of delivery of the vehicles, the vendors were fully paid based on job completion certificate authenticated by the then Chief of Logistics. Also, analysis of the various bank accounts of the 2 companies showed transfers to individuals related to then Chief of Army Staff,” the report said.

AVM Jon Ode (Rtd)
President of the Presidential Committee on the Audit
of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces
(2007-2015)

Find below, the full list of individuals and companies the president approved for further investigation and a full copy of the report.
SERVING AND RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL
a. Lt Gen OA Ihejirika (Rtd) – former COAS
b. Lt Gen KTJ Minimah (Rtd) – former COAS
c. Maj Gen JAH Ewansiha (Rtd)- former CTOP(A)

d. Maj Gen U Buzugbe (Rtd) – former COPP(A)
e. Maj Gen ER Chioba (Rtd) – former DG DICON
f. Maj Gen AI Muraina (Rtd) – former CAB(A)
g. Maj Gen EJ Atewe – former Commander JTF Op PULO
SHIELD
h. Maj Gen DD Kitchener (Rtd)- former COLOG
i. Brig Gen DM Onoyiveta – former COS to COAS
j. Brig Gen AJS Onibasa – former OMT
k. Brig Gen M Mamman – HQ NAE
l. Col N Ashinze – former SA – NSA
m. Col AA Abubagaji – former AD Fin
n. Col AM Inuwa – former AD Fin (COPP)
o. Lt Col MS Dasuki (Rtd) – former NSA
p. Lt Col El-Hussaini Boyi (Rtd)- former AD Fin

q. Sqn Ldr M Oyaduogba – Finance Offr JTF Op PULO SHIELD
r. 96NA/43/8364 Cpl Abubakar Usman

SERVING AND RETIRED PUBLIC OFFICIALS
a. Dr Nurudeen Mohammed – former HMSFA II
b. Mr Bukar Goni Aji – former Perm Sec (MOD)
c. Mr Haruna Sanusi – former Perm Sec (MOD)
d. Mr EO Oyemomi – former Perm Sec (MOD)
e. Mr Abdulrazak Salau – former DJSD MOD
f. Mr Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla – former DFA MOD

g. Mrs Josephine N Opara – former DFA MOD
h. Mr Abdullahi Maikano – former DFA MOD
i. Mr John Bamidele – former DFA MOD
j. Mr Buba M Gamawa – former DJSD MOD
k. Mr Tajudeen Gbenga Fetuga – former DFA MOD
l. Alhaji Salisu Shuaibu – former Dir Finance ONSA
CEOs OF COMPANIES
a. Col Olu Bamgbose (Rtd) – CEO Bamverde Ltd
b. Mr Amit Sade – CEO Doiyatec Comms Ltd & DYI Global Services
c. Mr Noam Sade – GM Doiyatec Comms & DYI Global
Service Ltd
d. Mr Jimmy Ntuen – CEO Barnes & Tubbies Ltd
e. Dr O Ayandele – CEO TS-Y Ltd
f. Mr Hima Aboubakar – CEO SEI
g. Alhaji Gujja Attom – CEO Baram International Nig Ltd
h. Alhaji Maisudan Bello Mohammed – CEO Dalfam Nig Ltd,
i. Mr Lawal Oriyomi – CEO 2020 Nig Ltd
j. Mr Chinedu Onyekwere – CEO Chok Ventures
k. Mr Eleojo Peters – CEO Clover Nig Ltd
l. Mr Alon Nelken Samuel – CEO Hadassa Investment Security (Nig)
m. Mr Edward Churchill – CEO Westgate Global Trust Ltd
n. Capt Rohit Nandal – CEO Hercules Manufacturing (Nig) Ltd.
o. Mr JM Claassens – CEO Conella Services Ltd
p. Mr Kingsley Onyeabor – CEO Phoenix Technology Trading Com-
q. Mr Donald Peterson – CEO Richfield Technologies Ltd.

r. Kaja Alexander Onyemachi – CEO Jiangxi 299 Metal & Stones Ltd
s. Mr Ponnle Abiodun – Berwick Integrated Services Ltd
t. CEO – Rapiscan System Ltd
u. CEO – Dorema Nigeria Ltd.
v. CEO – Progress Ltd
w. CEO – Koncept Auto Centre Ltd
x. Mr Kime Egozi

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