The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) special task force is probing
how a N5billion vehicles purchase grant from the Office of the National
Security Adviser (ONSA) for the monitoring of the 2015 general elections was spent.
The
Department of Army Logistics became aware of the quantity and types of vehicles
on October 29, last year — about seven months after they were bought.
The
transaction was allegedly carried out by the Department of Training and
Operations.
There
were no award letters, contract agreements, technical assessment reports,
delivery notes and receipt vouchers, it
was learnt.
Besides,
the EFCC team is looking into alleged spending of $5,938,897.18(N2,
369,619,903) between September 3 and 13, 2014 on the procurement of
Counter Improvised Explosive Device Equipment (CIED) for the Defence and
Security Services without a needs assessment.
The
$5,938,897.18 (N2, 369,619,903) contracts were awarded and paid for within
10 days.
The
panel has shortlisted 25 of the 54 suspects for interrogation.
The
suspects, who are to be interrogated “any time from now”, include some serving
and retired officers, ex-permanent secretaries and directors of Finance.
EFCC
Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu last night mandated the task force “not to spare
any suspect implicated in the deals”.
It was learnt that issues surrounding the
N5billion and the $5,938,897.18 formed the major aspects of the preliminary
investigation concluded by the EFCC team.
It
was learnt that the preliminary investigation corroborated the report of the
Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment, which was headed by Air
Vice Marshal JON Ode.
After
Ode panel submitted its third interim report to President Muhammadu Buhari, the
54 people for probe were shortlisted.
The
EFCC raised the Special Task Force when the report was sent to Magu.
A
source, who spoke in confidence last night, said: “The Task Force has virtually
completed its preliminary investigation. Very soon, we will start inviting
about 25 suspects in the first batch for interrogation.
“On
Wednesday, the EFCC chairman mandated the Task Force ‘not to spare anybody
implicated in the procurement scandal in the Nigerian Army. Magu said there
should be ‘no sacred cows’ and we are sticking to that.”
The
source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter,
said: the task force had gone far in probing the curious N5billion grant.
It
was gathered that the panel discovered irregularities in the purchase of the
vehicles in line with the initial findings of Ode’s committee.
A
document made available to our correspondent reads in part: “In the wake of
preparations for the 2015 general elections, the ONSA released
N5,000,000,000.00 to Nigerian Army on 16 March 2015 to meet its requirements
for the exercise.
“The
Committee established that out of the amount, Nigerian Army procured 155 units
of Toyota Hilux and 50 units of Isuzu trucks, a procurement that was carried
out in total disregard of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
“
There were no procurement documents, such as award letters, contract
agreements, technical assessment reports, delivery notes and receipt vouchers
to support the acquisition. “Consequently, the unit cost of the vehicles and
tax payable could not be ascertained.
“Moreover,
the procurement was carried out by Department of Training and Operations
instead of the Department of Army Logistics.
“The
distribution of the vehicles showed that 15 were allocated to the Chief of Army
Staff (COAS) without specifying the purpose.
“
Sadly, the Department of Army Logistics became aware of the quantity and types
of vehicles on 29 October 2015, about seven months after they were procured,
thereby jeopardising accountability. The Committee is of the view that the
procurement process was fraudulent.”
A
source in the Task Force said: “ Those to be quizzed on the purchase of
the N5billion vehicles are a Lt.-Gen, a Major-General, a Brig.-General
and an auto firm .
“We
will release their names whenever we are ready to interrogate them. We do not
want to jeopardise investigation.”
The
EFCC source also claimed that the task force was looking into alleged purchase
of CIED for the Defence and Security Services by ONSA without due process.
The
two contracts, which were said to be worth $5,938,897.18 (N2,
369,619,903), were awarded and paid for within 10 days.
The
document added: “ ONSA awarded and funded two other
contracts totalling $5,938,897.18 between3 and 13 September 2014 for the
procurement of CIED for the defence and security services. “There were no need
assessments from the beneficiary Services and security agencies prior to the
procurement and ‘donation’ of the items by ONSA.
“
Furthermore, there were no traces of award letters, contract agreements and
proof of payment of WHT amounting to $296,944.86.”
Three
suspects out of the 25 short-listed have been recommended for quizzing on
the $5,938,897.18 for the CIED.
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