$2.1bn Arms Deal: Indicted military officers to face Court Martial

Military officers who have been so far indicted in the $2.1 billion arms procurement scam may not be prosecuted in the civil court, but may rather face a court martial to determine their level of involvement, and appropriate sanctions if found guilty.

A number of top military officers who have been mentioned in the scandal have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation including a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, two former Chiefs of Air Staff, Air Marshals M.D. Umar and A.N. Amosu (retd.)

Also on the list are 28 other military officers.

It was gathered that the indicted serving officers under investigation, many of whom have been reportedly removed from their positions and are being detained a facility in one of the barracks in Abuja, will face court martial because of the sensitive positions they occupied.

A source at the EFCC noted that “The weight of their offences and the sensitive nature of infractions will determine whether or not they will be arraigned before the military tribunal or a civil court.

“For instance, one of the suspects is from the Intelligence Unit. It will be challenging subjecting such an officer to an open trial in a law court.”

Section 113 of the Armed Forces Act (2004) makes an officer found guilty liable for an imprisonment of five years.

It was also gathered, that a number of serving military officers have lost their command positions, over alleged involvement in the arms scam, as the military has displaced them until their trial is concluded.

A military source stated that, “This is a standard military practice, which we have already adhered to. There is no way they can still be holding these sensitive military positions.”

Some of those serving military officers are: AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi;  AVM J.B. Adigun ( Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings); Col. N. Ashinze(Designated Military attache to Nigerian Embassy in Germany)

Their replacements are: AVM A.A. Jekenu (Chief of Administration); AVM B. G. Saidu (Chief of Policy and plans (DHQ); AVM E.A. Anebi(Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); and AVM E.E. Agwungwu(Acting AOC, Tactical Air Command); and Air Commodore Clement Ogbeche(Chief of Accounts and Budget); AVM Lawal Alao (Managing Director, NAF Holding Company (NAFHC).