Another monumental fraud has been uncovered in the military by an investigative body set up by the president as part of the anti-corruption war.
The Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP) has traced about N2billion, meant for the purchase of vehicles for the Nigerian Army, to the accounts of five children of a former Chief of Army Staff.
The accounts were said to have been frozen as at the time of filing this report. Also, the panel discovered that about 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) rejected by Iraq were resold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.
It said the poor equipment accounted for the loss of lives and soldiers in the North-East. The panel’s findings are contained in a brief which was obtained by The Nation.
The outcome of the panel’s investigation suggested that the children of the ex-Chief of Army Staff allegedly used two companies for the deal.
The panel said: “The committee reviewed the procurement carried out by Chok Ventures Ltd and Integrated Equipment Services Ltd, two companies that shared the same registered office, had one name as common controlling shareholder and sole or mandatory signatory to the various banks accounts of the companies.
“The committee further established that between March 2011 and December 2013, the two companies exclusively procured various types of Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles worth over N2, 000,000,000.00 for the Nigerian Army without any competitive bidding.
“Most of the contracts awarded to the companies were also split, awarded on the same date or within a short space of time at costs and mobilization higher than the prescribed thresholds.
“For instance, on February 13 and 15, the two companies were awarded contracts worth N260, 000.000.00 and N315, 000,000.00 respectively for supplies of various vehicles. The Nigerian Army could not justify the exclusive selection of these vendors against other renowned distributors of same brands of vehicles procured.
“More seriously, the committee found no credible evidence of delivery of the vehicles by the two companies as there were no receipt vouchers, but only unauthenticated delivery notes, invoices and waybills that were purportedly used for the deliveries.
“Nevertheless, the vendors were fully paid based on job completion certificate authenticated by the then Chief of Logistics, Maj Gen D.D. Kitchener (rtd). The payments were also made without deduction of Withholding Tax (WHT). Furthermore, analyses of the various bank accounts of the two companies showed transfers to individuals , some of who are believed to be children of the army chief.
“Thus, the committee recommends further investigation to determine delivery of the vehicles and relationship of funds beneficiaries with the former COAS and the two companies. Furthermore, the panel said that Lt Gen O. A. Ihejirika (rtd), Maj Gen D. D. Kitchener (rtd), Col A. M. Inuwa and Mr Chinedu Onyekwere should be held accountable for the issues arising out of the contracts.”
I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia.
Posted: at 14-08-2016 05:38 PM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero
A Nigeria general answering the name KITCHENER and disgracing the name of the REAL army officer - General Kitchener - whose motto was YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.
Posted: at 14-08-2016 05:58 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Slimchery at 14-08-2016 07:00 PM (8 years ago) (m)
naija, which way, why una nor wan help us leaders? na waiting we do una abi na crime we commit to vote una into power? after una go say money nor dey naija
Posted: at 14-08-2016 07:00 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Pauldedon at 15-08-2016 01:20 AM (8 years ago) (m)
THIS GOVERNMENT WILL NEVER STOP THEIR VICTIMIZATION BASED ON TRIBALISM AND RELIGION, THOSE THAT ARE PROCURING THE ARMS NOW CURRENTLY, HOW BETTER ARE THEY? HOW TRANSPARENT ARE THEY? GOVERNMENT NEEDED ARMS AND IT WAS SUPPLIED AND PAID FOR, MUST IT BE FIRST CLASS WHEN THE COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT? SOMEONE SHOULD TELL BUHARI TO STOP THIS NONSENSE AGAINST THE IGBO AND CHRISTIANS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE FOR THIS ENTITY CALL NIGERIA. I KNOW THEY WILL GO AFTER HIM AND RUBBISH HIM, THE FIRST MINISTER OF DEFENCE FROM THE SOUTH EAST SINCE END OF THE CIVIL WAR, THIS HATE IS SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY WILL SURELY PAY FOR IT
Posted: at 15-08-2016 01:20 AM (8 years ago) | Newbie
@PAULDEDON THE DEFENCE MINISTER AFTER HIM ALSO ARRESTED IS ALSO IGBO AND CHRISTIAN? DASUKI STILL IN PRISON FOR THE SAME ARMS DEAL IS ALSO IGBO AND CHRISTIAN? WE SOUTHERNER ARE THE PROBLEMS OF OURSELVES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET UP A COMMITTEE TO PROBE ARMS DEAL AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING AND ACCORDING TO THIS NEWS BILLIONS MEANT FOR ARMS WAS TRACED TO HIS KIDS ACCOUNT, DON,T FORGET WE HAVE NOW BVN WHERE ALL MONEY CAN BE TRACED!!!!!! WHAT IS BUHARI,S BUSINESS WITH IT? WE THINK LIKE THIS DUE TO LACK OF INSTITUTIONS IN OUR COUNTRY AND WE FROM THE SOUTH ARE THE ONES DESTROYING INSTITUTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, I HAVE A LOT OF EXAMPLES BUT I WILL GIVE ONLY ONE THAT HAPPENED NOT SO LONG AGO JAMES IBORI PERSONALLY DESTROYED EFCC AND AS AT THEN EFCC WAS THE ONLY WORKING INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA. IF SOMEONE IS ARRESTED IN NEW YORK FOR FRAUD WILL YOU SAY ITS OBAMA THAT ORDERED HIS ARREST BECAUSE HIS IS A MOSLEM OR BECAUSE HIS NOT FROM CHICAGO?
Posted: at 15-08-2016 07:06 AM (8 years ago) | Upcoming
If only some stupid people from the eastern part of the Zoo will only know that this people will never trust any of u no matter what!. Is high time u fools wake up and declear ur nation BIAFRA.
Posted: at 15-08-2016 12:54 PM (8 years ago) | Upcoming
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