The 13-man investigative committee
set up to probe the procurement of hardware and ammunition in the Armed
Forces has started its sitting, albeit in camera, The PUNCH has learnt.
The committee has been meeting in the
office of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno
(retd.), a source in the Presidency confided in The PUNCH on Wednesday.
The source said, “I can confirm to you
that the committee members have started meeting. They even started
meeting before their appointments were announced. This is because they
do not need any confirmation or any formal inauguration.
“Available information showed that members are getting the needed assistance and support from interested parties.
“It
is the government’s belief that a lot of ground would be covered by the
committee in its desire to ascertain what went wrong in the past as far
as the procurement of arms is concerned.”
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi
Adesina, had on Monday announced the composition of the committee, which
is saddled with the responsibility of probing arms purchase from 2007
till now.
Adesina had said the President directed
the NSA to set up the committee with the mandate of identifying
irregularities and making recommendations for streamlining the
procurement process in the Armed Forces.
Members of the committee include AVM
J.O.N. Ode (retd.) –chairman; R/Adm. J. A. Aikhomu (retd.); R/Adm. E.
Ogbor (retd.); Brig. Gen L. Adekagun (retd.); Brig. Gen. M. Aminu-Kano
(retd.); Brig. Gen. N. Rimtip (retd.); Cdre. T.D. Ikoli; Air Cdre U.
Mohammed (retd.); Air Cdre I. Shafi’i; Col. A.A. Ariyibi; Group Capt.
C.A. Oriaku (retd.); Mr. I. Magu (EFCC); and Brig. Gen Y.I. Shalangwa –
Secretary.
Adesina explained that the establishment
of the committee was in keeping with Buhari’s determination to stamp
out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.
He added, “It (the committee) comes
against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian
Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency
operations in the North-East, including the apparent deficit in military
platforms with its attendant negative effects of troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically
investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment
procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches
from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often
resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable
equipment.”
No timeline was given for the co
mmittee to carry out its assignment.
Meanwhile, South Africa has said that it
is not involved in the investigation into the purchase of arms by the
administrations of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and former President
Goodluck Jonathan.
It described the arms probe panel as a
Nigerian affair, saying it did not involve in the aborted botched $15m
arms deal by the administration of Jonathan in 2014.
The South Africa’s High Commissioner in
Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, stated this in a telephone interview with our
correspondent on Wednesday.
Mnguni was asked to react to a report that South Africa might be invited by the Buhari’s arms deal probe panel.
Also asked if his commission would
appear before the panel if summoned, the envoy said his mission had
nothing to do with the failed arms deals, stressing that it was purely a
Nigerian issue.
He added that the South African mission
would be guided by directives from the home government, noting that the
embassy was a member of the diplomatic community which only follows
official instructions.
“We don’t know anything about the arms
issue; that is a Nigerian matter. We are not involved. You know what, we
are guided by our government and you must also know that we are in the
diplomatic community,” he said.
ABUJA
— President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a 13-member panel to
probe two of his predecessors, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan, on procurement of arms and ammunition for the Armed Forces.
The investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.
The committee, which was constituted by the the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), on the directive of the President, is headed by AVM J.O.N. Ode (retd.) while Brig-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa is secretary.
Other members are Rear Admiral J. A. Aikhomu (retd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (retd.), Brig-Gen. L. Adekagun (retd.), Brig-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (retd.), Brig-Gen N. Rimtip (retd.), Commodore T. D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (retd), Air Commodore I. Shafi’i, Col A. A. Ariyibi, GP Capt C.A. Oriaku (retd) and Mr. I. Magu (EFCC).
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said “the establishment of the investigative committee is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.
“It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects on troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”
This is not a govt of probes, but of due process, law and order
Meanwhile, the Presidency has declared that Buhari’s administration is not a government of probes but of due process, law and order.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, also stated the administration of President Buhari will not shy away from probing the government of former President Jonathan in the face of alleged fraud and corruption.
He spoke following an accusation of selective probe against Buhari by a prominent northern leader, Tanko Yakassai.
The presidential aide said there are sensitive matters arising from briefings and official engagements, which the President cannot overlook and described as laughable the allegation that Buhari has excluded other former presidents like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because he was close to them.
He said: “Let me say that officially, nobody is under probe, even Dr. Jonathan. People should not make mistakes about the fact that what is going on are routine investigations. These are matters that the President has found on the table.
“So, there is nothing like a probe. If Jonathan will be probed, you would have heard of, may be, an administrative panel of enquiry or judicial panel of enquiry. But it hasn’t come to that. These are matters of routine engagements of due process of law and order.
“President Buhari in his campaign said his government was not going to probe into the past. We are not probing but as a responsible government, you cannot bring to the table matters such as we are dealing with and then, the President will wave them off.
“The Office of the President may be powerful but it is controlled, regulated by due process and the constitution of the country. The President cannot wave away matters that are arising from either handing-over or the routine briefings. How can anybody say he was part of the Obasanjo military regime and that’s why he’s not probing them?
Speaking further, the presidential spokesman queried why the allies of former President Jonathan would wait until now to champion the cause of probing past governments before Jonathan.
It was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe Obasanjo, Yar’Adua
He stated that it was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe the governments of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua.
“Let me tell you, if Obasanjo and Yar’Adua and all of the past governments before Jonathan needed to have been probed, why did Jonathan shy away from his responsibility? Why didn’t he probe them while he was in office? Why didn’t Tanko Yakassai ask Jonathan to probe Yar’Adua, Babangida, Obasanjo? Why do they have to wait for Buhari to come and do what he should have done?
“It is common sense. So, if he didn’t probe them, why should his people ask some other person to probe them? If they felt it was desirable to probe the past administration, as a party, why didn’t they do it themselves? Why do they have to wait for President Buhari?
“This is not a government of probes. It is a government of due process and law and order. President Buhari is dealing with the matters he has found on the table and he has no power under the constitution to wave them. If somebody had stolen Nigeria’s one billion dollars of oil, President Buhari is not authorized to wave it off under the law. He should ask questions. There is no probe going on now. People who are creating the spectre of probes in the country just want to create unnecessary fear.”
On allegation of running unilateral govt
On the issue of running a unilateral government having not appointed ministers, Shehu said the allegation was unfounded.
According to him, the government is running well and its ministries and agencies were competently manned by the permanent secretaries.
Shehu, however, assured that President Buhari would form his cabinet soon.
He said: “The constitution is very clear about the powers of the state. Legislative powers are there under the parliament. The President has not interfered with the powers of the parliament. Even when the clamour was there for him to save the parliament from the crisis of leadership, he stayed out of it.
“The executive arm of government is the first arm which President Buhari has under him and he is not interfering in the other arms of government. However, all the ministries of the government are being competently run under the supervision of the permanent secretaries.
“They consult the President and the President consults them. He consults the party and the party consults him. So, if anybody is not in the room when these matters are being discussed, don’t go out there telling people that there is no consultation going on. You cannot be an adviser to PDP president and also be an adviser to the APC government at the same time.
“The President will appoint ministers. There is no question about that. The President will decide when he will appoint his ministers. If it is auspicious for him to appoint them in September, he will.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/fg-names-13-man-panel-to-probe-yaradua-jonathan/#sthash.rciggkSK.dpuf
The investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.
The committee, which was constituted by the the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), on the directive of the President, is headed by AVM J.O.N. Ode (retd.) while Brig-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa is secretary.
Other members are Rear Admiral J. A. Aikhomu (retd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (retd.), Brig-Gen. L. Adekagun (retd.), Brig-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (retd.), Brig-Gen N. Rimtip (retd.), Commodore T. D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (retd), Air Commodore I. Shafi’i, Col A. A. Ariyibi, GP Capt C.A. Oriaku (retd) and Mr. I. Magu (EFCC).
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said “the establishment of the investigative committee is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.
“It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects on troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”
MUHAMMADU BUHARI
This is not a govt of probes, but of due process, law and order
Meanwhile, the Presidency has declared that Buhari’s administration is not a government of probes but of due process, law and order.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, also stated the administration of President Buhari will not shy away from probing the government of former President Jonathan in the face of alleged fraud and corruption.
He spoke following an accusation of selective probe against Buhari by a prominent northern leader, Tanko Yakassai.
The presidential aide said there are sensitive matters arising from briefings and official engagements, which the President cannot overlook and described as laughable the allegation that Buhari has excluded other former presidents like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because he was close to them.
He said: “Let me say that officially, nobody is under probe, even Dr. Jonathan. People should not make mistakes about the fact that what is going on are routine investigations. These are matters that the President has found on the table.
“So, there is nothing like a probe. If Jonathan will be probed, you would have heard of, may be, an administrative panel of enquiry or judicial panel of enquiry. But it hasn’t come to that. These are matters of routine engagements of due process of law and order.
“President Buhari in his campaign said his government was not going to probe into the past. We are not probing but as a responsible government, you cannot bring to the table matters such as we are dealing with and then, the President will wave them off.
“The Office of the President may be powerful but it is controlled, regulated by due process and the constitution of the country. The President cannot wave away matters that are arising from either handing-over or the routine briefings. How can anybody say he was part of the Obasanjo military regime and that’s why he’s not probing them?
Speaking further, the presidential spokesman queried why the allies of former President Jonathan would wait until now to champion the cause of probing past governments before Jonathan.
It was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe Obasanjo, Yar’Adua
He stated that it was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe the governments of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua.
“Let me tell you, if Obasanjo and Yar’Adua and all of the past governments before Jonathan needed to have been probed, why did Jonathan shy away from his responsibility? Why didn’t he probe them while he was in office? Why didn’t Tanko Yakassai ask Jonathan to probe Yar’Adua, Babangida, Obasanjo? Why do they have to wait for Buhari to come and do what he should have done?
“It is common sense. So, if he didn’t probe them, why should his people ask some other person to probe them? If they felt it was desirable to probe the past administration, as a party, why didn’t they do it themselves? Why do they have to wait for President Buhari?
“This is not a government of probes. It is a government of due process and law and order. President Buhari is dealing with the matters he has found on the table and he has no power under the constitution to wave them. If somebody had stolen Nigeria’s one billion dollars of oil, President Buhari is not authorized to wave it off under the law. He should ask questions. There is no probe going on now. People who are creating the spectre of probes in the country just want to create unnecessary fear.”
On allegation of running unilateral govt
On the issue of running a unilateral government having not appointed ministers, Shehu said the allegation was unfounded.
According to him, the government is running well and its ministries and agencies were competently manned by the permanent secretaries.
Shehu, however, assured that President Buhari would form his cabinet soon.
He said: “The constitution is very clear about the powers of the state. Legislative powers are there under the parliament. The President has not interfered with the powers of the parliament. Even when the clamour was there for him to save the parliament from the crisis of leadership, he stayed out of it.
“The executive arm of government is the first arm which President Buhari has under him and he is not interfering in the other arms of government. However, all the ministries of the government are being competently run under the supervision of the permanent secretaries.
“They consult the President and the President consults them. He consults the party and the party consults him. So, if anybody is not in the room when these matters are being discussed, don’t go out there telling people that there is no consultation going on. You cannot be an adviser to PDP president and also be an adviser to the APC government at the same time.
“The President will appoint ministers. There is no question about that. The President will decide when he will appoint his ministers. If it is auspicious for him to appoint them in September, he will.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/fg-names-13-man-panel-to-probe-yaradua-jonathan/#sthash.rciggkSK.dpuf
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