PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has set up a 13-man committee to probe the sourcing of military hardware under the administrations of the immediate past two presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Yar'Adua.
Part of the government's clampdown and corruption which President Buhari has made the central plank of his administration, the committee will examine the procurement of arms and ammunition for the armed forces by the two regimes. Its mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the armed forces.
Chaired by Retired Air Vice Marshal Jon Ode, the committee will have Brigadier Yusuf Shalangwa serve as its secretary. Other members include Rear Admiral J A Aikhomu, Rear Admiral E Ogbor, Brigadier L Adekagun, Brigadier M Aminu-Kano, Brigigadier N Rimtip, Commodore T D Ikoli, Air Commodore U Mohammed, Air Commodore I Shafi’i, Col A A Ariyibi, Group Captain CA Oriaku and Mr Magu of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, said: “The establishment of the investigative committee is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service. It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects on troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment. This is not a government of probes but of due process, law and order."
Senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, added that the administration of President Buhari will not shy away from probing the government of former President Jonathan in the face of alleged fraud and corruption. He added that there are sensitive matters arising from briefings and official engagements, which the president cannot overlook and described as laughable the allegation that President Buhari has excluded other former presidents like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because he was close to them.
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