Date Published: 09/08/10
Another N1 Billion Scandal trails Danbazzau, other sacked Army Chiefs …
Budgeted N55 Billion for Non-Existing Simulation Center
Fresh facts have emerged how sacked former Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Danbazzau
and other sacked service chiefs ensured the released of N1 Billion under the pretext of
purchasing military equipment that already exist in the military warehouse.
Danbazzau in a letter in May 2011 demanded the immediate release of the N1 Billion
for the purchase of parachutes and musical equipment for the last Army Day celebration,
Pointblanknews.com has learnt from available documents.
The former Army chief and the former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral A. I. Ibrahim,
Principal General Staff Officer and Rear Admiral Dele Uzoba with the full cooperation of
Secretary to the Government, Ahmed Yayale and the Defence Minister, Adetokunboh Kayode
had planned a whooping N500 Billion Defense contract for companies believed to be
owned by General Ibrahim Babangida and Mr. Yayale as reported exclusively by Pointblanknews.com.
When Pointblanknews.com exposed the scandalous contract which had been previously
awarded in 2009 for N178 Billion, the presidency was said to have been miffed and immediately ordered a probe.
Sources within the Military hierarchy informed Pointblanknews.com that
former Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshall Paul Dike was mandated to
investigate the N500 Billion contract
meant to boost the financial fortunes of General Babangida ahead of his Presidential campaign
and also find out how the classified documents leaked out to Pointblanknews.com
But rather than investigate, Air Marshall Dike, treated the high profile corruption
with kid glove, attempting to sweep the allegations under the carpet.
Unknown to the Military, sources informed pointblanknews.com that one of the fronts
for Yayale’s Doyatechcom, a major Defense contract firm, had already owned up to the
contract scam during an interrogation in the Presidency.
It was discovered that most of the items listed in the N500 Billion contract are all fake.
For instance, the Nigeria Army School of Infantry, NASI, has no Simulation Center,
yet Danbazzau and his colleagues budgeted N55 Billion for “modification of weapons.”
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the only simulation center owned and operated
by the Nigeria Army is located at the Command and Staff College, CSC,
Jaji and has only four officers and 66 soldiers.
Also, the Armored fighting Vehicle, VBL which was included in the contract proposal
for a staggering price of N99 Billion was not necessary according to sources within
the military as such equipment was recently rejected by the
United nations for peace keeping because they are substandard.
Sources also hinted that the VBL were first purchased by IBB for his dream National Guard before the Army took them over.
However, as the underground investigation went on, officials discovered
a recent release of N1 Billion to the Army for the purchases of parachutes,
musical equipment and training. Sources told Pointblanknews.com that
the N1 Billion was shared by top military brass as the parachutes and musical equipment were never purchased.
“Those stuffs were never purchased I can tell you that for sure.
Those people just pocketed the money and that is not the first time they are doing that,”
a military source told pointblanknews.com.
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