Dasukigate: Military chiefs hide loot in wives’, kids’ names

There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigating the arms procurement scandal tagged ‘Dasukigate’ may restrict access to bank accounts operated by wives and children of some retired, as well as serving military chiefs indicted in the scam.

Sources at the anti-graft agency revealed that huge amounts of money and some assets suspected to be proceeds from the scam were traced to such accounts, and proxies used to acquire assets from the money.

It was gathered that the former and serving officers under investigation may have acquired properties in the names of their wives, children and relations “to hide their loot”.
According to the source, “Our investigators have uncovered that some of these military officers under probe stashed their shares of the $2.1billion arms cash in the accounts of their relations, especially wives and children.

“We have traced such slush funds and we may freeze these accounts until we have screened the inflows and expenditures. The legitimately operated accounts will be freed after thorough screening.”

Read also: Dasukigate: Questions ex-CDS Badeh has to answer

He also revealed, that some houses belonging to the children and relations of some military chiefs have been identified as products of proceeds of financial crimes. “We have already marked the properties of one of the children of a top military brass. We have invoked Temporary Assets Forfeiture Clause in EFCC Act”.

He explained, that “It is obvious that some of the arms cash were laundered through proxies, relations and phony companies. Some even registered companies in the names of their spouses or families.”

Meanwhile, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, reported to the EFCC, yesterday for questioning, but his invitation was rescheduled for Monday ”because of operational reasons”.

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