The arms purchase probe panel will examine
contracts executed during the administrations
of no fewer than 19 former military chiefs. They
are five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs;
four National Security Advisers (NSAs) and eight
former Ministers of Defence. The probe has created panic among retired
military chiefs who coordinated arms purchases
in the last eight years, The Nation learnt
yesterday. Some of the officers, according to sources, have
started making moves to have access to “vital
records”. It was also learnt that five Israelis, who played
major roles in arms procurement for the military
in the last six years, are to be invited by the
committee, whose members were named on
Monday after President Muhammadu Buhari’s
directive. The Israelis reportedly left the country on the
eve of the general elections, following signs that
Buhari might win the poll. The government has directed that tight security
be provided for members of the panel. The assignment is comprehensive; it will run
through many administrations. A source, who pleaded not to be named
because of what he described as “the sensitivity
of the matter”, said: “The probe will require
looking into the administrations of five Chiefs of
Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National
Security Advisers and eight former ministers. It is a Herculean task. “Already, there is panic in the circle of retired
military officers on the intent of the  evaluation
of arms purchase. Some of these former military
chiefs have reached out to panel members to
allow them have access to relevant documents.” A military source gave insight into why it is
necessary to invite the former CDS, Service
Chiefs, NSAs and ex-ministers. The source said: “All arms deals were not
subjected to the nation’s procurement laws
even though the late President Umaru Yar’Adua
specifically said there should be no due process
waiver for the military. “Most of the military chiefs cited security reasons
for not subjecting those purchases to the
nation’s laws. So, some of these military officers
either depended on the Ministry of Defence or
used internal mechanisms to buy arms. “In some instances, there were directives from
the Presidential Villa as in the case of the
$466.5m contract awarded to a financier of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 by the
administration of ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan  to weaponise six Puma helicopters. The immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Adesola Amosu, raised some issues but he was
overruled.” Responding to a question, a military source said:
“Some former ministers of defence interfered
with arms purchase but a few others were
sidelined. The immediate past Minister of
Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, complained at a point
to Jonathan that he was not fully in the picture of things.” It was also learnt that the scope of the
assignment might involve international
collaboration following the need to question
five Israelis. Another source added: “These Israelis were
central to the facilitation of the purchase of the
arms for the military in any part of the world. But
they left Nigeria before the general election
when the signs were clear that President Buhari
was likely to win the poll. “They came for legitimate arms business but
they got entrenched in the Nigerian system.
They are all well-known in the nation’s security
network. The panel may invite them for
interaction. “Besides the Israelis, some South Africans and
Russians will be contacted. We know their
embassies will cooperate with the panel.” As at press time, the panel might look into the
list of the administrations of five Chiefs of
Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four National
Security Advisers and eight former Ministers of
Defence. The  Chiefs of Defence Staff from 2007 to 2015
are: the late Lt.-Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi
(2007-2008); Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike
(2008-2010); Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin
(2010-2012); Admiral Ola Ibrahim(2012-2014);
and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh(2014-2015). As for the Nigerian Army, those to be under
searchlight are Lt.-Gen. Luka Yusuf
(2007-2008), Lt.-Gen.  Abdurrahman
Dambazzau (2008-2010), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike
Ihejirika(2010-2014) and Lt.-Gen. Kenneth
Minimah (January 2014-July 2015). In the Nigerian Navy, the investigation will cover
the following past Chiefs of Naval Staff: Vice
Admiral G.T. Adekeye(2005-2008); Vice Admiral
I.I. Ibrahim(2008-2010); Vice Admiral O.S.
Ibrahim(2010-2012); Vice Admiral D.J. Ezeoba
(2012-2013);  and Vice Admiral U.O. Jibrin (2013-2015). For the Air Force, the scope of the probe will
affect the tenures of the following officers and
their teams. They include Air Marshal Paul Dike
(2006-2008); Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin
(2008-2010); Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko
Umar(2010-2012); Air Marshal Alex Badeh (2012-2014) and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu
(2014-2015). The National Security Advisers from 2007 to
2014 are: Gen. Aliyu Gusau; the late Gen. Owoye
Azazi; Gen. Sarki Mukhtar; and Col. Sambo
Dasuki. The Ministers of Defence within the time frame of
the panel are: Yayale Ahmed(2007-2008);
Shettima Mustapha(2098-2009); Godwin Abbe
(2009-2010); Adetokunbo Kayode
(2010-2011); Bello Haliru Mohammed
(2011-2012); Erelu Olusola Obada (2012-2013) ; Gen. Aliyu Gusau (2013-2015)
and Musiliu Obanikoro(2012-2014).