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Breaking: Procurement of 2 expired helicopters: Buhari orders EFCC to probe Airforce officers, others

On the recommendation of the committee established to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to 2015,
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out further investigation into the misconduct established against some past past and serving top Airforce and Army officers.

The affected officers who are seventeen in number were found culpable in using their private companies to purchase arms and equipment between 2007 and 2015 during the PDP administration.

The Committee earlier set up by the President, investigated them and made recommendations for appropriate sanction, but in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu on Friday, the following retired and serving officers were asked to be further investigated by the EFCC. They are:
(1)Air Chief Marshal AS Badeh (Rtd)
(2)Air Marshal MD Umar (Rtd)
(3)Air Marshal AN Amosu (Rtd)
(4) Maj-Gen. ER Chioba (Rtd)
(5)AVM IA Balogun (Rtd)
(6)AVM AG Tsakr (Rtd)
(7)AVM AG Idowu (Rtd)
(8)AVM AM Mamu
(9)AVM OT Oguntoyinbo
(10)AVM T Omenyi
(11)AVM JB Adigun
(12)AVM RA Ojuawo
(13)AVM JA Kayode-Beckley
(12)Air Cdre SA Yushau (Rtd)
(13)Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi
(14)Air Cdre GMD Gwani
(15)Air Cdre SO Makinde
(16)Air Cdre AY Lassa
(16)Col N Ashinze
(17)Lt Col. MS Dasuki (Rtd)
“Following the submission of the audit committee’s second interim report, President Buhari has directed the EFCC to investigate the roles of the officers and the following companies and their directors in fundamental breaches associated with the procurements by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).”
(1)Messrs Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux
(2) Himma Aboubakar
(3)Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited
(4)Messrs Syrius Technologies
(5) Dr Theresa A. Ittu
(6)Sky Experts Nig Ltd
(7)Omenyi Ifeanyi Tony
(8)Huzee Nig Ltd
(9)GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd
(10) Gbujie Peter Obie
(11) Onuri Samuel Ugochukwu
(12)Spacewebs Interservices Ltd
(13)Oguntoyinbo Tayo
(14) Oguntoyinbo Funmi.
(15) Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd
(16)Chief Jacobs Bola
(17)Mono Marine Corporation Nig Ltd
(18)Geonel Intergrated Services Ltd
(20)Sachi Felicia
(20) Mudaki Polycarp
(21)Wolfgang Reinl.
“The breaches identified by the Audit Committee include non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
“Furthermore, the procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and generally characterized by irregularities and fraud.
“In many cases, the procured items failed to meet the purposes they were procured for, especially the counter insurgency efforts in the North East.
“A major procurement activity undertaken by ONSA for NAF was that concerning the contracts awarded to Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux (SEI) Nig Ltd.
“Between January 2014 and February 2015, NAF awarded 10 contracts totalling Nine Hundred and Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety US Dollars ($930,500,690.00) to SEI Nig Ltd.
“Letters of award and End User Certificates for all the contracts issued by NAF and ONSA respectively did not reflect the contract sums.
“Rather, these were only found in the vendor’s invoices, all dated 19 March 2015. Additionally, some of the award letters contained misleading delivery dates suggesting fraudulent intent in the award process.
“The observed discrepancies are in clear contravention of extant procurement regulations.
“The SEI contracts included procurement of two used Mi-24V Helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at the cost of One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Four Thousand US Dollars ($136,944,000.00).
“However, it was confirmed that the helicopters were excessively priced and not operationally air worthy at the time of delivery.
“A brand new unit of such helicopters goes for about Thirty Million US Dollars ($30m). Furthermore, the helicopters were delivered without rotor blades and upgrade accessories.
“Additionally, the helicopters were undergoing upgrade while being deployed for operation in the North East without proper documentation.
“It was further established that as at date, only one of the helicopters is in service while the other crashed and claimed the lives of two NAF personnel.
“The Committee established that ONSA also funded the procurement of 4 used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at the cost of Seven Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand US Dollars ($7,180,000.00). However, it was confirmed that only 2 of the Alpha-Jet aircraft were ferried to Nigeria after cannibalization of engines from NAF fleet.
“This is contrary to the written assertion of the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AN Amosu to the former NSA that all the 4 procured Alpha-Jets aircraft were delivered to the NAF.
“The non-militarisation of the Alpha-Jets made them unsuitable for deployment to the North East and they are currently deployed only for training at NAF Kainji.
Furthermore, the procurement of the Alpha-Jets was contrary to the recommendation of the assessment team.
“The Committee found that the conduct of Air Marshal Amosu was deliberately misleading and unpatriotic.
“The contract for the procurement of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar for the NAF was awarded to GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd in April 2014 at the cost of Thirty Three Million US Dollars ($33m) and was funded by ONSA.
“The Committee established that the radars were excessively priced as a complete set of such radars (comprising 6 radars including the Control Centre) goes for Six Million US Dollars ($6m) averagely.
“The Committee observed that the radars were delivered without the vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft, which has significantly degraded the operational capabilities of the NAF in the North East.
“It was further observed that the sum of Three Million, Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($3.3m) was fraudulently included in the contract agreement as VAT and With Holding Tax and subsequently paid into the bank accounts of Spacewebs Interservices Ltd and Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd.
The Committee further established that Two Million US Dollars ($2m) from the proceeds was transferred to Mono Marine Corporation Nig Ltd, which is jointly owned by principal characters in this deal. The Committee opined that the infractions of extant regulations by these companies were clearly intended to defraud.
It was established that between September 2009 and May 2015, the NAF expended about Fifteen Billion Naira (N15bn) on the maintenance of its Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters. Out of this amount, Four Billion, Four Hundred and Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira, Forty One Kobo (N4,402,687,569.41) was paid out for contracts not executed.
It was also observed that in carrying out these maintenance activities, contracts worth over Two Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N2.5bn) were awarded to Syrius Technologies, a Ukrainian company that was not registered in Nigeria. Regrettably, in spite of these expenditures, the status of NAF fleet remained operationally appalling as only 3 Alpha-Jets, 2 C-130H and one each of Mi-24V and Mi-35P were serviceable as at 28 May 15.
In October 2013, NAF awarded contracts to DICON for the supply of weapons and ammunition at the cost of Five Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira (N599,118,000.00). However, only 2 of the 7 items contracted were delivered to NAF while the outstanding 5 items remained undelivered despite repeated requests to DICON.
The Committee also found that the delivered ammunition were about 40 years old, thereby casting doubts on their shelf life. The failure of DICON to fully execute the contract and the delivery of aged ammunition diminished the capacity of the NAF in North East operation.
“The Committee uncovered insider dealings by military officers in procurement activities undertaken by ONSA and the NAF.
“The officers were found to have misused or abused their offices for personal gains by influencing award of contracts to private companies in which they have substantial interests.
“For instance, an officer serving in the ONSA used his office to secure 2 contracts for his company, Geonel Integrated Services Ltd, for the protection of 20 Dams and Presidential Air Fleet security at the cost of Six Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N6,250,000,000.00) and Five Million US Dollars ($5m) respectively.
“Furthermore, some NAF officers used their companies to collect VAT and With Holding Tax that were never remitted to FIRS while another officer was found to have cross transferred about Five Hundred Million Naira (N500m) between a NAF company, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, SkyExperts Nig Ltd and Huzee Nig Ltd, companies in which he had personal interests.
“It would be recalled that in its First Interim Report, the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment established that the sum of Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion Naira (N643bn) and Two Billion, One Hundred Million US Dollars ($2.1bn) interventions were received for defence procurements by DHQ and the Services between 2007 and 2015.
In continuation of its assignment, the Committee has so far established that the nation spent about Twenty Nine Billion Naira (N29bn) and Two Billion US Dollars ($2bn) on NAF procurement activities alone.

News
As Committee Chairman, I did not authorise Natasha to petition IPU over her suspension from Senate – Jimoh Ibrahim

The Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the 10th Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim said he didn’t authorize Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District to petition the Interparliamentary Union over her suspension.

JImoh Ibrahim who represents Ondo South Senatorial District declared that the petition submitted to the IPU by Natasha is dead on arrival, saying she is not a member of the Interparliamentary Union to have rights to lodge a petition in a manner she did.

JImoh said Natasha’s decision to approach IPU and lodging a petition on her plight was not in pattern of IPU, stressing that he was an interim President of IPU in 2023 which he presided over proceedings and was conversant with the workings of the body.
According to a statement he made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja on Friday, the Ondo Federal lawmaker hinted that it’s Nigeria that is a member of the IPU and not an individual person, highlighting that “a petition can only be filed against a State by another member State.”
The lawmaker said: “the purported petition from the suspended Senator Natasha is “dead on arrival.”
“Nigeria, rather than Senator Natasha, is the member of the IPU. A petition can only be lodged against another member state by a member state. This implies that the IPU cannot consider petitions from individuals who are not members.
“The suspended Senator Natasha is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is!
Additionally, the suspended Senator cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I served as the interim President of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, and I am familiar with how the IPU operates after presiding over its proceedings.
“As Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorise the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”
It is recalled that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate for six months over alleged breach of Senate Rules and Order and in the aftermath approached IPU and petitioned the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led Senate.
She has also alleged sexual harassment by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio which he has denied.

News
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu extends RHI food outreach to vulnerable households in Kogi

The Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)’s commitment to supporting Nigerians, particularly women, youths and vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

Speaking on Monday at the Government House in Lokoja, Kogi State, while donating food items to vulnerable groups, Senator Tinubu, represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, highlighted the impact of the RHI Food Outreach Scheme in addressing food insecurity and improving livelihoods.

She noted that RHI has successfully distributed assorted food items to vulnerable households in eight states so far, including the FCT, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Nasarawa, with Delta and Oyo set to benefit next.
The First Lady also emphasized that, through the RHI Social Investment Scheme, the initiative is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to establish environment and climate change clubs in secondary schools and climate change societies in tertiary institutions with the aims of promoting a clean and healthy environment for all citizens.
She noted that RHI’s Economic Empowerment Plan will provide a ₦250,000 grant to 200 Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) to help recapitalize their businesses.
Senator Tinubu stated that the programmes align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance the well-being of Nigerians, particularly vulnerable groups. She urged beneficiaries to make good use of the food items to support their families.
She also commended Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, Wife of the Kogi State Governor and State Coordinator of RHI, for her exceptional efforts in coordinating the initiative’s programs within the state.
Earlier in her remarks, Hajia Sefinat Ododo welcomed the First Lady to Kogi state and assured that the food items would reach their intended beneficiaries, emphasizing that the support would greatly alleviate hardship for many households and pledged her commitment to ensuring fair distribution.
She also expressed the unwavering support of Kogi women for President Tinubu’s administration and praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s continued efforts in uplifting lives through RHI.
In his address, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo appreciated Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her support through the RHI saying Kogi State was one hundred percent in support of the Tinubu administration.
The Governor highlighted some of his achievements in youth and women empowerment, and provision of a food palliatives, noting that he will continue to provide the leadership as a servant leader to make Kogi resources work for the people and further grow the economy.
The RHI Food Outreach Programme is part of RHI’s broader efforts to combat poverty and food insecurity across the nation.

News
Bill establishing College of Vocational, Technical Studies, Ikire, Osun State passes second reading in Senate

The bill for an act to establish Federal College of Vocational and Technical Studies, Ikire in Osun on Wednesday passed second reading at the Senate.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Oyewumi Kamorudeen representing Osun West, in a lead debate stated that the bill will improve career and technical education, saying it will make trainers to be better equipped to face the challenges of modern time.

He explained that establishing a Federal Vocational and Technical college in Ikire, will address the growing need for specialized, middle-level skills needed in the workforce in Nigeria.
According to the lawmaker, “The institution will provide opportunities for young people to acquire necessary vocational skills that are needed for employment in the labour market”,
Sen. Kamarudeen emphasis that the bill if pass it will also help to promote economic growth and reduce unemployment.
The lawmaker stated that “the college when established It will provide opportunities for young people to acquire necessary vocational skills that are needed for employment in the labour market.
“This will help to promote economic growth and reduce unemployment. The Technical and Vocational institution established by this bill will provide acceptable certificates in middle-level Technical training education expertise” he said.
“As a country, we must as a matter of priority, encourage technical skill acquisition to align with the global paradigm shift especially now that Artificial intelligence is taking over human activities in the labour market. This will also minimize youth restiveness and other social vices in the country”.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) for further legislative input and report back in four weeks.

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