Dasukigate: Questions ex-CDS Badeh has to answer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has extended an invitation to a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, to appear at the commission today for interaction, to unravel some issues related to the ongoing investigation in the $2.1billion arms procurement scandal.

The agency wants Badeh to explain the purchase of equipment and Alpha Jetsas well as the spending of N330.75million on uniforms for the Armed Forces.

An EFCC source stated that, “We have invited Badeh, we expect him to come and make clarifications on procurement of equipment during his tenure.

“He has advantage because he was Chief of Air Staff before his elevation to the CDS. So, he will be of assistance to the probe by this commission.

Read also: The racket that defrauded NIMASA of N906m

“The breaches identified by the Audit Committee include non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

“Furthermore, the procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and generally characterised by irregularities and fraud. In many cases, the procured items failed to meet the purposes they were procured for, especially the counter insurgency efforts in the North East.”

According to the source, “The immediate past NSA said on November 26, 2014, that Badeh sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform (in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs.

“The coming of Badeh will set the stage for interaction with other military top shots.”

Some issues the EFCC wants Badeh to clarify include:

1)      How 10 contracts totalling $930,500,690.00 were awarded

2)      Payment of N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts

3)      Procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00.

4)      Four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA

5)      Cannibalisation of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets

6)      Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one

7)      Delivery of radars without vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft

8)      Transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited owned by some Air Force officers

9)      N15bn lavished on the maintenance of Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.

10)  N2.5billion contracts awarded to Syrius Technologies( Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria

11)  Award of seven contracts at N599,118,000.00 to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria(DICON). Only two delivered

 

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