NEWS: EFCC Moves To Freeze Bank Accounts Of Ex-Service Chiefs

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, January 18, stated that it was collaborating with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit on the monitoring of military officers invited by the commission.



The Punch reported that the anti-graft agency special task force on the probe of arms scandal had sent a list of persons and companies whose accounts were being monitored.

It was learnt that the commission was seeking to freeze the accounts of any officer or companies that were found to be holding huge sum of money as such person will be required to provide explanation on the funds.

A source said: “The commission will definitely look into the financial operations of those indicted military personnel.

“It might not be automatic to move against their accounts. Such a decision would be determined by the outcome of the investigation.”

However, the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, did not disclose further information on the ongoing monitoring of accounts of ex-service chiefs.

He added that the presidency just released the names of the affected military personnel for investigation and would not make any further  comment on the issue.

Uwujarean said: “I don’t have any comment on this issue. You know that the Presidency just released the names please.”

It was leant that there were fears among military officers since the report of the Presidential Panel on arms procurement was released.

A source disclosed that there were worries about the career of serving officers who were included in the list might be at risk.

The source said: “There is tension all over the place. The thing came as a shock to many of the top people whose names were published by the Presidency on Friday.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, January 15, had ordered for the investigation of 17 serving and retired military officers, which included the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (retd), a former chief of air staff, Air Marshall Dikko Umar (retd), chief of air staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, (retd) on alleged misapplication of arms purchase between 2007 and 2015.

Others include Maj. Gen. E. R. Chioba (retd.); AVM I. A. Balogun (retd.); AVM A. G. Tsakr (retd.); and AVM A. G. Idowu (retd.).

The serving officer under investigation include Air Marshal A. M. Mamu (Chief of Administration, NAF); AVM Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM T. Omenyi (Managing Director, NAF Holdings); AVM J. B. Adigun (former Chief of Accounts and Budget); AVM R. A.Ojuawo (Air Force Tactical Air Command, Markudi); AVM J. A. Kayode-Beckley (Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); Air Cdre A. O. Ogunjobi; Air Cdr G. M. D. Gwani; Air Cdr A.Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze (Special Assistant to the former NSA, Dasuki), and Air Cdr. S. O. Makinde.

Also, the presidency disclosed that about 21 companies and their directors would be investigated by the EFCC over the $2.1 arms scandal.