It was a shocking scene on Wednesday as former chief of defence staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh arrived at the office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour the invitation extended to him by the commission about his involvement in the alleged $2.1bn arms deal scandal but the investigators were not ready to question him.
The shock of the observers at the commision’s headquarters arose from the fact that the incompetent investigators wasted the time of the former CDS to come all the way from his house to EFCC headquarters by not calling him by phone to cancel the invitation when they were not ready to interrogate him.
However, a reliable source at the EFCC headquarters said the interactions between the commission and Badeh could not hold as he was asked to come back on Monday following an adjournment by the investigators to enable them conclude some logistics requirements which were not disclosed.
The source noted that Badeh was spotted at the EFCC around 10am, where he had gone to make clarifications on alleged improper procurements made under his watch as CDS.
The former CDS was accompanied to the EFCC by two of his associates and some aides.
On Monday, Badeh is expected to shed more light on the 10 NAF contracts totalling N930.5m awarded to Societe D’Equipments Internationaux (SEI) Nig Ltd. during his watch between January 2014 and February 2015.
The award letters, according to the arms probe panel, contained misleading delivery dates, suggesting fraudulent intent in the award process.
Operatives are also expected to grill him over the procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at the cost of $136.9m The helicopters were discovered to be overpriced and not airworthy at the time of delivery.
The panel established that a brand new unit of Mi-24V helicopter goes for about $30m.
Attempts to get the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren to speak on this proved abortive as calls to his phone did not go through.
…War against corruption will be intensified – Magu
The acting Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said that with the political will of the current administration, the anti-graft agency has no reason whatsoever to fail in its fight against corruption.
He said that the war against corruption will be intensified given the prevailing political atmosphere.
Magu, who spoke with journalists Wednesday after members of the House of Representatives standing committee on financial crimes led by the Chairman, Hon. Kayode Oladele (APC, Ogun) visited him, said political will and mass support against graft was critical in winning the war on corruption.
“I always tell my boys that you have no reason to fail this time around. Even though there are a lot of things outstanding, we would go ahead and intensify the fight,” he said.
Oladele in his remarks said the House was aware of the agency’s plight and assured that there would be enough funds for the agency to carry out its duties in the year’s budget.
He also said the House would not whittle down the powers of the agency but would rather strengthen it.
-Leadership