Many military contracts were awarded without due process and incompetent vendors got the jobs, it was learnt last night. A panel investigating Defence equipment procurement between 2007 and 2015 has uncovered massive fraud in Army contracts. The Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP), headed by Air Vice Marshal Jon Ode, which submitted its third interim report to President Muhamadu Buhari last week, recommended further investigations, which the President has approved.
To be investigated are two former Chiefs of Army Staff – Lt.-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika and Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah. Sixteen other retired and serving army officers are also to be probed, besides 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 Chief Executive Officers of companies involved in the procurement of equipment. They are: 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 Mr. E.O, Oyemomi.
The CEOs to be investigated include Col. Olu Bamgbose (rtd.) of Bamverde Ltd; Mr. Amity Sade of Doiyatec Comms Ltd and DYI Global Services and Mr. Edward Churchill of Westgate Global Trust Ltd.
