Boko Haram: Arms Procurement Fraud: Fear Grips Former Service Chiefs

According to informed security sources, the response made by Sambo Dasuki to the order has also made them worry as the former national security adviser gave away some of their names as witnesses to prove his innocence. Speaking with Leadership, a security source confirmed that former service chiefs who served in under the administration of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan are currently in a dilemma.

Fear has gripped former service chiefs following Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the arrest and trial of public servants and military officers indicted by the presidential panel investigating the purchase of arms and ammunition.

 “I am aware that some of these former (service) chiefs are away from the country for now. Shortly after their retirements, they relocated abroad at least to rest but what is happening now must have thrown them into a panic because they know deep down in their hearts that the performance of our troops under their watch was unacceptable to the Commander-in-Chief (Buhari) right from the electioneering days. I was shocked at reading the statement issued by Dasuki and that has pitched them against the president.”

“I can confirm it on good authority that the ex-service chiefs have been calling some top military officers, trying to find out the level of their involvement in the committee’s findings, and most have reached out to the current NSA, pleading to return some of the alleged missing funds to avoid the president’s sledge hammer as well as prosecution.

“Whoever is indicted by the panel among them, or whose name was mentioned in Dasuki’s response, would be in a dilemma now, whether to clear himself or keep silent until he is summoned,” the source said. According to another top military officer, whatever happens in the court will show whether due process was followed or not on Dasuki’s watch.

“The on-going probe may consume those who played one role or the other in all the contracts awarded. I am aware all the contracts for the purchase of the arms and other equipment got the approval of former president Goodluck Jonathan but they were all handled by the office of the national security adviser,” he said. A middle-level officer expressed disappointment in how soldiers and officers lost their lives in the ongoing war against the Boko Haram sect over poor ammunition.

“I remember our days in Maiduguri; it was God that saved us. Whoever is indicted must be sanctioned as deterrence,” he added. Meanwhile, Dasuki has released an official statement, in which he claimed he always acted in the interest of the nation and with utmost fear of God.“In order not to endanger the nation’s security, there are many salient issues and contracts which I cannot put in public domain. I am ready for trial on all these allegations in order to prove to Nigerians that I did nothing untoward in office. We will certainly meet in court,” he stated.